The death toll of the first US strikes against Yemen’s Houthis since US President Donald Trump took office rose to 53 on Sunday, a spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry said.
Five children and two women were among the victims while the number of injuries rose to 98, Anees Alsbahi, the spokesman, said on social media.
US F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft shot down a combined 11 drones on Sunday fired by Yemen’s Houthis, a US official said, following Houthi claims of an attempt to attack a US aircraft carrier off Yemen’s coast.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drones did not come close to the Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, which has played a key role in Trump’s strikes on Yemen.
The US official added the US military also tracked a Houthi missile that failed in-flight and splashed down in the waters off Yemen. The US military took no action because it was not deemed a threat, the official said.
The Houthis, who have targeted Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians.
Trump has warned the Iran-backed group of repercussions if it did not stop attacking ships.
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