A controversial U.S. airstrike in April on a prison operated by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which resulted in the deaths of over 60 detained African migrants, has drawn calls for investigation as a potential war crime. Amnesty International, a leading human rights organization, has urged scrutiny into the April 28 attack in Yemen’s Saada province. The strike was part of an intensified U.S. military campaign under President Donald Trump, targeting Houthi rebels for disrupting Red Sea shipping routes amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The U.S. military’s Central Command has yet to provide an explanation for the strike, which occurred at a site previously bombed by a Saudi-led coalition. Survivors, all Ethiopian migrants detained while attempting to reach Saudi Arabia, reported no Houthi fighters present at the time of the attack. Amnesty International has labeled the strike as an “indiscriminate attack,” emphasizing that international law prohibits targeting civilian structures like prisons unless they are used for military purposes. The Houthis recently revised the death toll to 61, down from an initial report of 68. The incident echoes a similar 2022 strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the same compound, which killed 66 detainees. The Houthis have denied misconduct but face criticism for their crackdown on activists and humanitarian workers. The U.S. campaign, which escalated under Trump’s Operation Rough Rider, has reportedly caused significant civilian casualties, with Airwars estimating at least 224 civilian deaths during the operation. U.S. Army Gen. Michael Kurilla has promised transparency regarding civilian casualties, though details remain undisclosed. The strike has raised concerns about the humanitarian impact on African migrants seeking better opportunities in the Gulf region.
Amnesty says US strike on a Yemen prison that killed dozens of African migrants may be a war crime
