Overview

• At least 38 people were killed and 102 injured in a U.S. bombing of the Houthi-controlled Ras Issa oil port on April 17, 2025.
• The U.S. Central Command confirmed the destruction of the fuel terminal, citing its use to fund Houthi operations through illicit oil sales.
• Ras Issa is a vital hub for Yemen, handling 70% of imports and 80% of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
• The Houthis denounced the strike as a war crime and a violation of Yemeni sovereignty, claiming it targeted civilian infrastructure.
• Yemen's internationally recognized government accused the Houthis of using the port for arms and Iranian fuel smuggling over the past decade.