A US airstrike on an oil port held by Houthi rebels in Yemen has killed more than 70 people marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict. The strike carried out under President Donald Trump administration targeted the Ras Isa oil port a key source of income for the Houthis.
The attack was intended to cut off vital revenue the rebels generate through oil sales which US officials claim is used to fund regional terrorist activities. The timing of the airstrike is particularly sensitive coming as nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran remain stalled.
In response, the Houthis fired a missile toward Israel, which was intercepted by Israeli defense systems. This tit-for-tat has raised fears of a broader regional crisis.
The Ras Isa port plays a crucial role in supplying fuel to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and its destruction may worsen the already dire humanitarian situation. The strike has also drawn attention to the increasing instability in the Red Sea region home to vital global shipping routes.
As tensions continue to rise the international community watches closely, concerned about how this latest turn may impact peace efforts in Yemen and diplomatic relations in the Middle East.