Why Did Iran Condemn US Airstrikes on Yemen?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- US airstrikes in Yemen have resulted in significant civilian casualties.
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as war crimes.
- International organizations have been criticized for their silence on the issue.
- The conflict in Yemen remains complex, with ongoing humanitarian concerns.
- Yemen serves as a transit point for many migrants despite the ongoing civil war.
Tehran, April 29 (NationPress) The Iranian Foreign Ministry has expressed a strong condemnation of the US airstrikes targeting Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the Saada province, including a facility housing African migrants.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the bombings that occurred on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 78 individuals, among them 68 African migrants held at a detention center in Saada, and injuring numerous others.
Baghaei labeled the US military strikes against civilian sites, essential infrastructure, and residential homes across Yemen as “war crimes”, which have led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians.
He also condemned the United Nations and international human rights organizations for their “silence and indifference” toward these blatant acts of lawlessness and the ongoing violations of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Baghaei urged Islamic nations to take decisive actions to halt the killings of Yemen's Muslim population and stop the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza and the West Bank, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Earlier on April 28, the Houthis, who have control over much of northern Yemen, reported that all casualties were illegal African migrants detained in the Saada facility.
As per the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Yemen continues to serve as a transit point for thousands of migrants traveling between the Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia, despite enduring years of civil conflict.
Tensions between the Houthis and the US military have escalated significantly since Washington resumed airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen on March 15. These strikes aimed to deter the Houthis from launching attacks against Israel and US vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas.
However, the airstrikes were reported just hours after the US Central Command disclosed that its forces had struck over 800 targets since President Donald Trump ordered a ramp-up of the air campaign against the Houthis on March 15.
This attack marks one of the deadliest in six weeks of intensified US airstrikes against the Houthis, an Iran-aligned faction controlling northern Yemen. The group has targeted shipping in the Red Sea, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians.