UNICEF says U.S. attacks on Yemen killed civilians, contradicting Pentagon’s claims

In Yemen, UNICEF has confirmed at least two children were killed in U.S. strikes after U.S. forces launched a large-scale military operation against the Houthis.  

The U.N. agency’s findings directly contradict this claim by a Pentagon spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who said: “On the civilian casualty side, no indications of any civilian casualties.  We, of course, have seen some of the accusations by the Houthis. We look at those closely when they do come in, but we have no credible indications of any civilian casualties.”

The Pentagon called the military operation against the Houthis open-ended and said attacks will continue “until we achieve the president’s objectives.” 

On Monday, tens of thousands of people rallied in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sana’a, to protest the U.S. strikes, which have reportedly killed dozens of civilians.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have claimed another attack on a United States naval vessel in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Yemen. The Houthis said last week the group would resume targeting Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea due to Israel’s ongoing blockade and war on Gaza.

President Trump has threatened the United States will hold Iran responsible for any further retaliatory attacks from the Houthis, saying on social media that Tehran would “suffer the consequences.”  

In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Iran’s ambassador to the U.S. expressed his “deep concern and strong condemnation” of Trump’s remarks.