US Airstrike on Ras Isa Port

The United States launched airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port in Yemen, a facility held by the Houthis, resulting in 74 deaths and 171 injuries. This attack, the deadliest in President Donald Trump's new military campaign against the Houthis, targeted oil facilities for the first time, causing massive fires and oil leakage into the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command stated the strike aimed to eliminate the Houthis' fuel source and illegal revenue, which funds their regional terrorist activities. Hours after the strike, the Houthis launched a missile towards Israel, which was intercepted. The conflict has further internationalized with the U.S. Department of State accusing Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, a Chinese commercial satellite image provider, of directly supporting Houthi attacks on U.S. interests. This accusation, which China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian declined to comment on directly, highlights the broader geopolitical implications, including ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States over Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. campaign against the Houthis is a response to their attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea and on Israel, which have significantly reduced trade flow through this crucial corridor.