Houthis protest U.S. strikes and Gaza war
Thousands of Houthi supporters demonstrated in Sanaa against the support of the United States for Israel's military operations in Gaza and Iran. During the protest, they waved flags and displayed banners with slogans against Washington and Tel Aviv.
Organized by the Houthi movement, the demonstrations featured chants of "Death to America, death to Israel," with participants waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags and displaying placards and firearms. The protests were ignited by U.S. airstrikes that, according to Houthi health officials, resulted in at least 53 deaths and nearly 100 injuries, including women and children. The U.S. stated that these strikes aimed to deter Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes.
Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi called for continued resistance, vowing to target U.S. naval assets if attacks persist. The group also claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman, although U.S. officials have not confirmed these incidents. The demonstrations reflect escalating tensions in the region, with the Houthis expressing support for Palestinians and opposition to U.S. and Israeli military actions.
The protests were particularly passionate, with crowds chanting under a sea of flags. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seized Sanaa in 2014, faced heavy bombardment overnight, with military targets hit. Large-scale demonstrations have been common since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, but this protest was notably intense.
The U.S. and UK strikes reportedly killed five people and wounded six, according to the Houthis, following weeks of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim they are targeting Israeli-linked vessels in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas conflict and have threatened to attack U.S. and British interests in response to the airstrikes.
