President Donald Trump on March 15 ordered a series of air-strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. Houthi authorities said 13 civilians were killed in the strikes. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who control the capital, have said they will resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s renewed blockade on aid to Gaza. Following the January Hamas-Israel ceasefire, the Houthis had paused their campaign of attacks on shipping, which they depict as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinians (although many targets are not linked to Israel). (AP, TNH)
Two days before the raid on Sanaa, a US air-strike in Iraq’s Anbar province was reported to have killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, a senior ISIS leader. The Pentagon’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that Rifai, also known as Abu Khadijah, was killed alongside another ISIS member in the strike. CENTCOM described Rifai as the “Chief of Global Operations for ISIS and the Delegated Committee Emir,” making him second in command of the Islamic State. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani issued a statement saying Rifai was “considered one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world.” (LWJ)
Photo: CENTCOM
Death toll rises in Yemen strikes
The death toll from US strikes on Yemen has risen to 53, including five children, according to the Houthi rebels’ health ministry. The US says that air-strikes will continue “indefinitely” until the Houthis pledge to halt their attacks on shipping. (BBC News, FirstPost)