UPDATE 2 – Yemen’s Houthis say US airstrikes destroyed iron factory in Al Hudaydah province

ADDS US STRIKE ON SANAA

By Hamdi Yılmaz and Mohammad Sio

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – Yemen’s Houthi group said late Monday that a series of US airstrikes had destroyed an iron factory in Al Hudaydah province in western Yemen.

Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-affiliated channel, reported that the US carried out multiple airstrikes on Al-Habashi Iron Factory in Bajil District, reducing it to rubble.

No further details were provided.

In a separate report, the outlet noted that another US airstrike hit the Al-Araj area in the same district, offering no specifics on the target or any casualties.

Al-Masirah also reported that a new US strike targeted the capital, Sanaa, without specifying the exact locations or casualties.

The 26 September website later reported that the strikes targeted northern Sanaa, describing “loud explosions” in the area.

It framed the attack as part of an ongoing “comprehensive aggression against Yemen” for the third consecutive day.

There was no immediate comment from Washington regarding the reported strikes.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis said that two US airstrikes targeted a cotton workshop in Zabid District of Al Hudaydah, causing unspecified damage.

There was no comment from the US on the strikes.

US President Donald Trump warned Sunday that “hell will rain down” if the Iranian-backed group continues its attacks on Red Sea shipping, marking the first such strikes since a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza took effect on Jan. 19.

The Houthis warned Israel on March 7 to allow humanitarian aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip within four days or face renewed maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels.

The Houthis have been attacking Israeli-linked ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones since late 2023, disrupting global trade for what it said was a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip.

The group halted attacks when the Gaza ceasefire was declared in January between Israel and Hamas, but it threatened to resume the attacks when Israel blocked all aid into Gaza on March 2.