Sanaa: The death toll from US air strikes on Yemen’s fuel port of Ras Isa has risen to 80, with 150 other people wounded, Houthi-run health authorities reported on Saturday. The strikes took place Thursday night, targeting the port and several concrete tanks used for storing imported fuel. The victims are workers of the port, including five paramedics, Xinhua news agency reported. The port, northwest of Yemen’s Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014. The attack marks the deadliest since Washington resumed its strikes on Houthi targets in mid-March. Five paramedics were also among the casualties, said the television in an earlier report, adding that they were killed upon their arrival on ambulances at the scene, in the second wave of US air strikes on the port that took place overnight shortly after the first. More than 14 air strikes on the fuel port were reported during the two waves, destroying concrete tanks storing imported fuel and igniting massive fires. The fires were extinguished within hours, said the report. A resident confirmed to Xinhua that among the victims were employees, truck drivers, contracted workers, and civilian trainees of the port, adding that rescue teams recovering bodies and extinguishing fires were also targeted in subsequent strikes. The port, northwest of Yemen’s Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014. (IANS)
Also Read: Second Round of US-Iran Nuclear Talks Begin
Also Watch: