DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a recent escalation of conflict, suspected U.S. airstrikes have reportedly killed at least two individuals and injured nine others in a stronghold of Yemen\'s Houthi rebels. This incident occurred in the northern governorate of Saada, as stated by the rebel group on Sunday. The airstrikes coincide with heightened tensions following a video shared by U.S. President Donald Trump that suggests the possibility of higher casualties among Houthi forces than the group has publicly acknowledged.

The strikes, which took place overnight in Saada, have been described by the Houthis\' al-Masirah satellite news channel. Footage aired by the channel depicted a two-story building collapsing, which the Houthis claim was a solar power shop. However, they did not release any video evidence from within the building, raising questions about the nature of the casualties.

The conflict in Yemen has intensified dramatically in recent weeks, particularly following the outbreak of violence linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. According to casualty figures released by the Houthis, over the course of sustained U.S. airstrikes under Trump\'s administration, at least 69 people have been killed, although the Houthis have yet to acknowledge any losses among their leadership or military personnel—an assertion that has been challenged by various sources.

In a related development, President Trump posted a striking video on social media early Saturday, showing black-and-white drone footage of a gathering of over 70 individuals. The video culminates in an explosion, leaving behind a large crater. Trump claimed, \\"These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,\\" although he did not provide specifics about the attack\'s location or other details regarding the operation. He added, \\"Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!\\" This statement underscores the administration\'s aggressive stance against the Houthi rebels, who have previously threatened shipping routes in the region.

The U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has yet to release the video shared by Trump, nor has it provided detailed information about the airstrikes conducted since March 15. However, the White House has confirmed that there have been over 200 airstrikes targeting Houthi positions.

The rebel-controlled SABA news agency reported that the bombing targeted a social gathering during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims. This assertion has been met with skepticism, as SABA described the individuals present at the gathering as having ties to Houthi operations, while the Houthis have not acknowledged any deaths from their ranks in Hodeida during this period.

Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen\'s exiled government, claimed that the strike killed approximately 70 Houthi fighters and leaders, including alleged experts from Iran\'s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims, and neither the Iranian government nor the Revolutionary Guard have acknowledged any such attack.

Yemen expert Mohammed al-Basha commented on the recent developments, highlighting social media condolences that suggest a key Houthi police commander in Hodeida was killed in the strike mentioned by Trump, along with his brothers. He emphasized that the strikes have broadened significantly, affecting multiple governorates at once, and have included attacks on telecommunications infrastructure, command centers, and previously untargeted tunnel networks in mountainous areas.

Al-Basha noted, \\"We’ve also seen direct targeting of Houthi force gatherings, indicating a more aggressive and evolving shift in the targeting strategy.\\" This marks a notable change from previous strategies utilized under former President Biden.

As the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, it is evident that the new American operations initiated under Trump are far more extensive than their predecessors. This escalation follows the Houthis\' threats to resume attacks on ships they claim to be Israeli, amid broader geopolitical tensions surrounding Israel\'s blockade of aid entering Gaza. The Houthis have previously targeted more than 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and causing casualties among sailors from November 2023 to January 2024.

Ultimately, the ongoing conflict and the U.S. response highlight the complexity of the situation in Yemen, where the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The Trump administration\'s airstrike campaign appears to be strategically linked to broader efforts to exert pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program, revealing the intricate ties between local conflicts and global geopolitical strategies.