Houthis say at least 31 killed after wave of US airstrikes on Yemen
Eight people were killed in a vehicle collision in western Kansas' Sherman County after heavy winds produced blowing dust on a major highway. More than 50 vehicles were involved in the fatal accident.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says six people were killed in three different counties while a further three people were reported missing. Almost 30 others were injured across the state.
The central state of Missouri recorded more fatalities than any other state as scattered twisters overnight that killed at least 12, authorities said. One man died after a tornado completely ripped apart and destroyed his home.
'It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,' said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that confronted rescuers. 'The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.'
Officials in Arkansas said three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties.
'We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,' posted Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on X.
Sanders, Reeves and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared states of emergencies across their states. Kemp said he was doing so in anticipation of severe weather moving in, in the early hours of Sunday.
On Friday, meanwhile, authorities said three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.
The massive storm system unleashed winds that triggered deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires.
Extreme weather conditions were forecast to affect an are that is home to more than 100 million people. Winds gusting up to 130 kmph were predicted from the Canadian border all the way down to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in southern warmer and drier areas.
Evacuations were ordered in some communities in Oklahoma as more than 130 wildfires were reported across the state. Nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed, according to Governor Kevin Still, who also added that fires burned across an area of 689 square km.
The US National Weather Service also reported that the storms also brough about massive amounts of rain. Several areas experienced flooding with a lot more at risk. Authorities are urging residents in areas affected by the storms to remain indoors and exercise caution.
US President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, which the Houthis said killed at least 31 people.
'Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,' Trump said in a social media post. 'No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.'
He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country 'fully accountable' for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran's advancing nuclear programme. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.
The Houthis reported explosions in their territory on Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels' stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early on Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early on Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry said early on Sunday that the death toll had climbed to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said Sunday that another 101 people were wounded.
A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the press.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won't deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. 'Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,' he added on social media.
Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump's claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes 'false and misleading.'
The airstrikes came a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel's latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.
There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of 'additional consequences' for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn't extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.
The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.
The attacks raised the Houthis' profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen's decade-long stalemated war that's torn apart the Arab world's poorest nation.
The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighbourhood in Sanaa's northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.
'The explosions were very strong,' said Abdallah al-Alffi. 'It was like an earthquake.'
The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.
The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province on late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.
The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel's military declined to comment.
However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.
Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.
Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
'These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,' Trump said.
US President Donald Trump launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, promising to use "overwhelming lethal force" until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels stop attacking ships in a vital maritime corridor. Nine civilians were killed, according to the Houthis.
In a social media post, Trump said, 'Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,' adding, 'No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.'
He also warned Iran against supporting the rebel group, vowing to hold the country 'fully accountable' for its proxy's actions. The warning comes two weeks after Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restart bilateral talks on Iran's advancing nuclear weapons program, something he has vowed not to let become operational.
The airstrikes follow a recent Houthi declaration that they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza. No Houthi attacks have been reported since that statement.
The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory Saturday evening. Residents said at least four airstrikes struck the Eastern Geraf neighborhood, where terrified families were caught in the blasts.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, insisted the airstrikes would not deter the group, vowing retaliation against the U.S. 'Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,' he wrote on social media.
While the US, Israel, and Britain have previously launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, Israel's military declined to comment on Saturday's operation.
A US official confirmed that the strikes were carried out solely by American forces, the first such operation under Trump's second administration, following a period of relative calm in the region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
29-07-2025
- France 24
LA wildfires push insurance losses to highest since 2011: Munich Re
Insurers took almost $80 billion (69 billion euros) of losses from natural disasters worldwide, Munich Re said, the second-highest hit since 1980. Wildfires around Los Angeles in January caused about $40 billion of the insured losses, said the group, which primarily covers insurers against their own risks -- an all-time record for wildfire damage. The two enormous fires killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 homes and buildings around the American city. "Climate change is a fact and is changing life on Earth," Munich Re board member Thomas Blunck said. "People, authorities and companies must all adapt to new circumstances." Only the first half of 2011 saw higher insured losses, after a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that left 18,500 people dead or missing and caused a devastating meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. Overall, there was $131 billion worth of damage worldwide if uninsured losses are included, Munich Re said, down from $155 billion in the first half of last year. Almost 90 percent of overall losses were weather-related, Munich Re said, with the figure rising to 98 percent for insured losses. Numerous scientific studies conclude that climate change, caused by pollutants such as carbon dioxide emissions, increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts and wildfires. Western Europe this year experienced its hottest June on record and Turkey on Saturday registered a nationwide temperature record of 50.5C.
France 24
20-06-2025
- France 24
Jeeno Thitikul edges clear as heat takes toll at Women's PGA
The 22-year-old, who is chasing her first major victory after seven top-10 finishes, reeled off six birdies to move into a one-shot lead. Jeeno's only blemish on an otherwise flawless opening round was a double-bogey six at the par-four fourth hole of PGA Frisco's 6,404-yard Fields Ranch East layout. The rising Thai star, who has already amassed 18 wins as a professional including five on the LPGA Tour, said she had taken a patient approach after shrugging off her early double-bogey disappointment. "I think like all the majors, I have told myself just to be really patient," Jeeno said after her round. "I definitely know that I'm going to miss a shot or make a bogey during the day. "Don't be like, moody ... I told myself be patient and focused on the next shot." Jeeno was one shot clear of Australia's Minjee Lee, who had a roller coaster round that included seven birdies and four bogeys en route to a three-under-par 69. Lee was satisfied with her round but admitted the searing temperatures in the high 90s (Fahrenheit) were challenging. "I just kept telling my caddie, can you give me another water, can you give me another water," Lee said. "I don't think we could have enough (water) out there. It's really hot." Japan's Rio Takeda, South Korea's Lee So-mi and American Yealimi Noh were a further shot back after carding two-under-par 70s. World number one Nelly Korda, meanwhile, is four off the pace after an opening level-par 72. Korda also admitted she had found the heat a struggle. "It's hot; I'm still cooling down right now," Korda said. "I'm pretty happy with my first round in the conditions. "It definitely takes a toll on you, the Texas heat." Auston Kim, who posted a one-under-par 71, said the heat had been more of a challenge than anything the twists and turns of the PGA Frisco layout had offered. "I think the most difficult thing is dealing with the heat," Kim said. "There were times I had to lock in really hard just because the heat is taking a toll on you. You kind of want to just get into a daze and it's hard to focus. "The heat was probably the hardest part, and then hitting the fairways. I had to chop it out of the rough twice today, including on the last hole.
France 24
16-06-2025
- France 24
Canada wildfire near Vancouver contained
Residents of British Columbia's Squamish district, which is just 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of the major city of Vancouver, had been on standby to evacuate as a blaze approached. But British Columbia's wildfire service said over the weekend that the Squamish fire was "being held" and the community now faced a "decreased risk." Residents of the coastal area told AFP last week that the size of the fire came as a shock. Marc-Andre Parisien, a researcher at the Canadian Forest Service, has said that fires near the ocean like the one that had threatened Squamish were concerning as such areas have not previously seen major wildfires. Two years after a historically devastating summer, Canada is once again facing a massive fire season, with burned areas already exceeding year-to-date averages from recent years. More than 220 active fires were burning across the country on Monday, with 90 of them considered out of control. Nearly four million hectares (15,400 square miles) have already been consumed by flames, an area slightly smaller than Switzerland. East of Squamish, in Canada's Prairies region, some 10,000 people who had been ordered to evacuate were cleared to head home as of Friday, as fire threats eased due to favorable weather conditions. But Canadian officials have warned the country faces an increased wildfire risk through the summer, with higher than normal temperatures expected in many regions. In recent years, Canada has experienced warming at least twice as fast as the rest of the globe. Linked to human-induced climate change, rising temperatures lead to reduced snow, shorter and milder winters, and earlier summer conditions that promote fires, experts say.
