US bombs cancer facility in Yemen during airstrikes

The United States vowed to intensify its military operation against Yemen’s Houthis until they halt airstrikes on Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. This escalation led to the destruction of a cancer facility, a cotton shop, and multiple neighborhoods in Saada during the US attacks.

According to Yemen’s health ministry, this was the largest US military operation in Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January, claiming at least 53 lives. 

A Qatar-based news platform, Al Jazeera, quoted local authorities stating that the US targeted an under-construction cancer facility, causing “widespread destruction.”

In a post-airstrike briefing, Yemeni officials were informed that, in addition to the previously mentioned destruction, US military forces also struck multiple neighborhoods in Saada.

Read: US airstrikes kill 24 in Yemen as Trump warns Houthis

A state-run news agency, Saba, reported that Saada Governor Mohammad Awad accused the US of deliberately targeting residential areas and civilian facilities, including the cancer center. He claimed this reflected “enemy confusion” and America’s 'ugly and criminal face.'

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture condemned airstrikes on a cotton shop in the Zabid district of the Hodeidah governorate, stating that targeting the infrastructure was aimed at at worsening humanitarian conditions.

On the other hand, the Houthis pledged not to stop their strikes in the Red Sea, saying that they would target the US ships in the Red Sea as long as the US continued its attacks on Yemen.

“If they continue their aggression, we will continue the escalation,” Reuters quoted Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi as saying.

Read: Houthis say they downed another US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone

In a series of statements, Houthi Military’s spokesperson on Monday stated they launched a second attack against the US aircraft carrier USS Harry STruman in the Red Sea.

A US official stated that earlier on Sunday, as many as 11 Houthis were killed in the US drone attack, and forces also tracked a missile that had fallen at the coast of Yemen. Hence, they have no threat of retaliatory action from Yemen’s Houthis.

"The minute the Houthis say we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones. This campaign will end, but until then it will be unrelenting,” said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegst to Fox News. 

He assserted, "This is about stopping the shooting at assets ... in that critical waterway, to reopen freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United States, and Iran has been enabling the Houthis for far too long," adding "They better back off."