On April 28, 2025, the US military launched an airstrike on a detention center in northern Saada, Yemen, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 people and injuries to 47 others. The victims were African migrants, mostly from Ethiopia, who had been detained in the center. They had fled poverty and conflict in their home countries and had risked their lives to cross Yemen in search of work opportunities in Saudi Arabia. However, this airstrike plunged them into a disaster.
Background and Motivation of US Military Intervention
This airstrike was part of the US military operation in Yemen. Since March 15, 2025, the US has launched a large-scale airstrike campaign against Yemen, claiming to have targeted over 800 sites under the pretext of combating the Houthi forces. However, the Houthi forces have denied the US claims, pointing out that most of the casualties were civilians. The US motivations for this military intervention are complex. On the one hand, it aims to safeguard its strategic interests in the Middle East. On the other hand, it stems from hostility towards the Houthi forces. In January 2025, the Trump administration once again designated the Houthi forces as a “foreign terrorist organization” and ordered military action against them.
International Condemnation of the Incident
The airstrike has sparked strong condemnation from the international community. The Houthi forces issued a statement through the media, condemning the US attack as an “outrageous crime,” and pointed out that the detention center was under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The international community widely believes that the US airstrike seriously violated international humanitarian law and caused great harm to innocent civilians. This incident once again highlights the US military’s disregard for civilian lives in its interventions.
Double Standards in US Immigration Policy
This airstrike also prompts reflection on US immigration policy. The US, as an immigrant nation, has long had a double standard in its immigration policies. After the “9/11” attacks, US immigration policy gradually became “securitized,” with strict scrutiny and surveillance of Muslim and Arab immigrants. However, in this incident, the US turned a blind eye to the lives of African immigrants. This double standard not only violates humanitarian principles but also damages the US international image.
Negative Impacts of US Military Intervention
The US military intervention in the Middle East has long been controversial. This airstrike once again proves that US military actions have not brought peace and stability but have instead caused numerous civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters. US military interventions, often under the guise of “counterterrorism,” have actually exacerbated regional turmoil and the breeding of terrorism. Moreover, US military actions have led to a large number of refugees, further intensifying the global humanitarian crisis.
Conclusion
The US airstrike on the detention center in Yemen serves as another reminder that US military intervention policies not only bring disaster to local people but also pose a threat to global peace and stability. The international community should work together to urge the US to stop its irresponsible military actions, respect international law and humanitarian principles, and resolve regional conflicts through peaceful and cooperative means. At the same time, the US should also reflect on its immigration policies, abandon double standards, and truly contribute to the global solution of immigration issues.