United States on Thursday carried out an airstrike on Yemen’s Ras Issa fuel port, killing 38 and injuring over 100 people, Houthi-controlled media reported. The attack was the deadliest US strike since President Donald Trump took office. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed, with Ras Issa acting as a vital source of revenue for the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
In the last month, Washington has ramped up its military campaign in the Middle East to dissuade the Houthis from attacking international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. The rebel group started these attacks in late 2023, asserting solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. Despite Washington labeling the Houthis as terrorists earlier this year, fuel shipments continued at Ras Issa—provoking direct US action.
Ras Issa Port: Strategic fuel lifeline
Ras Issa is located on the western edge of Yemen along the coast of the Red Sea. The Houthis have employed it not just to import fuel but also to finance their campaign of attacks. Even after the US designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, ships supposedly continued to supply fuel through this port.
????? NEW FOOTAGE OF U.S. STRIKE ON HOUTHI FUEL PORT KILLING 15
The U.S. bombed Ras Issa, the Houthis’ main fuel port, accusing them of using oil profits to fund terror.
CENTCOM said tankers kept docking despite a U.S. ban, and the revenue directly fueled attacks.
Yemen’s… https://t.co/Pfhg8Jflrx pic.twitter.com/RwbgdcSUPD
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 18, 2025
CENTCOM reported that it moved against the group’s financial engine and aimed to degrade its regional capabilities.
Civilian casualties cause global uproar
Houthi-held Al Masirah TV documented 38 killed and 102 wounded. Moreover, Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi announced the strike resulted in 13 port workers being killed and another 30 being wounded.
Pictures of blood-soaked civilians poured rapidly onto social media, as well as a response of international outrage from humanitarian organizations. Relief groups sounded alarm bells over rising civilian casualties and further escalation.
CENTCOM makes defense of strike as Pre-emptive attack
CENTCOM justified the attack as a reaction to ongoing Houthi aggression. The rebels were characterized as “Iran-backed terrorists” who have destabilized the region for more than a decade.
Military officials highlighted that the Houthis posed not only a threat to commercial shipping but also inflicted hardship on Yemenis. By cutting fuel revenue, the US sought to curtail further violence and safeguard important trade routes.
Houthi attacks continue to choke global trade
Since late 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The attacks compelled shipping firms to steer clear of the Suez Canal—a route that accounts for about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
Consequently, ships now make longer circumnavigations around Africa, resulting in increased shipping costs and supply chain disruptions globally.
Energy crisis looms
By striking Ras Issa, the US might have opened a new crisis front—this time humanitarian. Most Yemenis rely on fuel from the port for electricity, transportation, and healthcare services.
Humanitarian groups worry the strike could exacerbate Yemen’s already weak infrastructure. As fuel shortages spread, hospitals could lose power, transport could grind to a halt, and essential services could collapse.
