Somali citizens among migrants killed in US airstrike in Yemen

At least 68 African migrants were killed after a US airstrike hit a detention centre run by Yemen’s Houthi group in the north-western province of Saada, local reports said on Monday.

Ibrahim Abdulkadir, a Somali citizen living in Yemen, told BBC that three to four Somalis were believed to be among the dead, although confirmation was pending.

“The number of Somalis was small. Three days ago, many Somalis who had been in the centre were relocated,” Abdulkadir said. He added that 90 people had died and 25 others were injured, although some media outlets reported at least 68 deaths.

The migrants had reportedly been arrested while trying to cross into Saudi Arabia and were being held at the Saada detention facility, which housed around 115 African migrants, Abdulkadir said.

Yemen’s Al-Masirah TV reported that 47 migrants were wounded, many seriously.

Footage from the site showed bodies trapped under rubble.

The US Central Command said earlier that American forces had struck about 800 targets since President Donald Trump ordered an escalation of operations against the Houthis on 15 March.