U.S. and Britain strike Houthi drone site amid rising tensions in Yemen

[MIDDLE EAST] U.S. and British forces carried out a coordinated military strike in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting a Houthi installation believed to be central to the group's drone manufacturing and testing operations, according to a statement from the UK’s Ministry of Defence.

The facility, located approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of the capital, Sanaa, was identified as a critical site for assembling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in maritime attacks. Analysts say the Houthis have significantly advanced their drone technology in recent years, with some models reportedly capable of bypassing radar systems—posing an ongoing threat to both commercial and military vessels operating in regional waters.

Tuesday’s strike comes amid an intensified U.S. military campaign ordered by President Donald Trump last month, aimed at pressuring the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels to cease their assaults on shipping in the Red Sea. The U.S. and UK have previously conducted joint operations in Yemen, citing the need to protect global shipping lanes.

Houthi drone and missile attacks have severely disrupted international trade routes, prompting major shipping firms to divert vessels around Africa. This longer route has led to increased insurance costs and further strained global supply chains. While Western officials frame the strikes as vital to maintaining maritime security, critics warn they risk deepening Yemen’s political instability and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The UK Ministry of Defence said intelligence pinpointed a network of buildings linked to drone production, and the nighttime operation was designed to reduce the risk to civilians. No casualties were reported in the official statement, and there has been no immediate comment from U.S. military officials.

Security analysts noted the late-hour timing likely aimed to minimize collateral damage—a point increasingly scrutinized as reports of civilian deaths continue to emerge. Independent verification remains difficult, as access to Houthi-controlled areas is limited and media coverage tightly managed.

On Monday, Houthi-run media claimed a U.S. airstrike struck a detention center housing African migrants, killing 68 people. A U.S. defense official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged awareness of the allegation and confirmed an ongoing review.

Earlier this month, a U.S. airstrike reportedly killed 74 people at an oil facility—marking the deadliest incident in Yemen under the Trump administration so far, according to the Houthi-controlled health ministry.

Human rights organizations have expressed growing alarm over the civilian toll. The United Nations and other humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for independent investigations into possible breaches of international law. Yemen remains gripped by one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 4.5 million people displaced and millions at risk of famine.

According to U.S. military statements, over 800 targets have been struck since mid-March, resulting in the deaths of numerous Houthi fighters and the destruction of key militant infrastructure.

The Houthis have controlled large areas of Yemen for the past decade. Since November 2023, they have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, claiming they are targeting ships with links to Israel. The group says its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign—launched after a deadly Hamas assault in October—has killed more than 52,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities. Israel denies allegations of genocide and war crimes.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel left 1,200 dead and approximately 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials, triggering the latest round of violence in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.