• US airstrikes in Sanaa killed 12 and left 34 injured, according to Houthi reports.
• The Houthis have threatened further retaliation, claiming attacks on US aircraft carriers.
• Last week's airstrikes follow the US targeting of Houthi positions to disrupt Red Sea shipping threats.
• The Houthis connect their actions to solidarity with Hamas amid rising regional tensions.
• This military campaign marks an escalation from US involvement in Yemen under different administrations.

US airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, resulted in significant casualties, with the Houthi rebels reporting at least 12 fatalities and 34 injuries. The strikes predominantly targeted a market in the Furwah neighborhood, an area that has seen previous attacks. Over the last month, nearly daily strikes have occurred, including a particularly deadly one at the Ras Isa fuel port, which the Houthis estimate killed around 80 people and injured many more. The US military has stated that these operations are aimed at mitigating Houthi threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a vital international trade route, and have intensified their focus following recent Houthi activity linked to Iran...

In response to the ongoing airstrikes, Mahdi al-Mashat, the head of the Houthi-run Supreme Political Council, issued a defiant warning directed towards the US, emphasizing the group’s resolve to escalate retaliatory measures. He claimed that the Houthi forces have successfully launched attacks on US aircraft carriers despite the US military's denials of direct confrontation. These remarks came as part of a broader narrative where the Houthis positioned their actions in line with regional solidarity efforts, particularly with Hamas amid the broader Middle Eastern conflicts...

The escalation of US military action in the region signals a marked change in strategy under the current administration, reflecting heightened regional tensions and a commitment to countering Iran's influence through its Houthi allies. Reports of these attacks align with incidents purportedly involving drone strikes against both US and Israeli targets, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. Houthi propaganda claims they are acting to defend against an American escalation they consider untenable in its potential consequences...