US military will limit information release on Yemen operations

On Sunday, the U.S. military announced that it would not disclose specific information regarding its military operations in Yemen, emphasizing the importance of maintaining operational security. They noted that these strikes have had significant impacts on Houthi rebels.

Last month, President Donald Trump directed an escalation of U.S. military actions in Yemen, with the administration stating that it would persist in targeting Iran-supported Houthi forces until they cease their assaults on shipping in the Red Sea. Recent military actions have resulted in numerous casualties, including 74 fatalities at an oil terminal in mid-April, marking the deadliest strike in Yemen during Trump’s presidency, according to reports from the Houthi-run health ministry.

Human rights advocates have expressed alarm over civilian casualties, prompting three Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, to request accountability from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth regarding civilian losses. Hegseth has faced criticism for utilizing the unclassified messaging platform Signal to discuss plans for attacks in Yemen.

The U.S. Central Command stated, ‘To maintain operational security, we have purposefully restricted the disclosure of details concerning our current or future operations. We are very intentional in our operational strategy, but we will not disclose specifics about our past or forthcoming actions.’

The military reported that it has targeted over 800 sites since mid-March, claiming to have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous leaders, as well as dismantling the group’s facilities. The military’s statement indicated that the strikes have ‘destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing sites, and advanced weapons storage locations.’

The U.S. government asserts that these operations are designed to undermine the military and economic capabilities of the Houthis while striving to reduce civilian casualties.

On Thursday, it was reported that a blast on April 20 near a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sanaa, Yemen, was attributed to a Houthi missile rather than an American airstrike. The Houthis claimed that a dozen individuals lost their lives in this incident and rejected the U.S. denial.

Over the past decade, the Houthis have gained control over large areas of Yemen. Since November 2023, they have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea, asserting that their actions are aimed at ships associated with Israel. They claim to be supporting Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing conflict has resulted in over 51,000 deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry, alongside accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel refutes.

The recent escalation in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict began in October 2023, following an attack by Hamas militants on Israel that resulted in 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 hostages taken, as reported by Israel.