The US military has been accused of carrying out an indiscriminate attack on a migrant detention center in Yemen, killing 61 detainees and injuring many more. According to Amnesty International, the strike was part of Operation Rough Rider, a campaign of air and naval strikes against Yemen's Houthi government that was conducted during the Trump administration.
The strike on April 28, 2025, targeted a facility in Sa'ada, Yemen's northwest, which was used to detain migrants from Ethiopia. Survivors of the attack reported seeing the facility being bombed without distinction between civilians and combatants, with many suffering significant injuries, including lost limbs and head trauma.
Amnesty International interviewed 15 survivors of the attack and found that there was no evidence to suggest that the facility was a military objective or that it contained any military equipment. The organization called on the Pentagon to investigate the attack as a war crime and provide reparations to the victims.
The US military has denied responsibility for the strike, with CENTCOM saying that it is still assessing all reports of civilian harm resulting from operations during that time period. However, four current and former US officials have told The Intercept that JSOC, a secretive organization that controls elite special mission units, was responsible for strikes in Yemen during Operation Rough Rider.
The attack on the migrant detention center has raised concerns about the lack of accountability for civilians killed or injured in US military operations. Amnesty International noted that many post-9/11 civilian casualty incidents have gone uninvestigated, and American military witnesses are often interviewed while civilians are ignored.
"This is a very dangerous development," said Brian Castner, the head of crisis research with Amnesty International's Crisis Response Program. "If CENTCOM takes this seriously, they need to do a transparent investigation and provide compensation to the victims."
The attack on the migrant detention center has also highlighted the risks of US military operations in Yemen, where the conflict has caused widespread human suffering and displacement. The Biden administration has pledged to improve its approach to civilian protection and accountability, but it remains to be seen whether these promises will be fulfilled.
In the meantime, the incident raises fundamental questions about the use of force by the US military and the need for greater transparency and accountability in times of conflict. As one former Pentagon official noted, "It's a gross devolution from US best practices in targeting, civilian harm mitigation, civilian harm investigation and response."
The strike on April 28, 2025, targeted a facility in Sa'ada, Yemen's northwest, which was used to detain migrants from Ethiopia. Survivors of the attack reported seeing the facility being bombed without distinction between civilians and combatants, with many suffering significant injuries, including lost limbs and head trauma.
Amnesty International interviewed 15 survivors of the attack and found that there was no evidence to suggest that the facility was a military objective or that it contained any military equipment. The organization called on the Pentagon to investigate the attack as a war crime and provide reparations to the victims.
The US military has denied responsibility for the strike, with CENTCOM saying that it is still assessing all reports of civilian harm resulting from operations during that time period. However, four current and former US officials have told The Intercept that JSOC, a secretive organization that controls elite special mission units, was responsible for strikes in Yemen during Operation Rough Rider.
The attack on the migrant detention center has raised concerns about the lack of accountability for civilians killed or injured in US military operations. Amnesty International noted that many post-9/11 civilian casualty incidents have gone uninvestigated, and American military witnesses are often interviewed while civilians are ignored.
"This is a very dangerous development," said Brian Castner, the head of crisis research with Amnesty International's Crisis Response Program. "If CENTCOM takes this seriously, they need to do a transparent investigation and provide compensation to the victims."
The attack on the migrant detention center has also highlighted the risks of US military operations in Yemen, where the conflict has caused widespread human suffering and displacement. The Biden administration has pledged to improve its approach to civilian protection and accountability, but it remains to be seen whether these promises will be fulfilled.
In the meantime, the incident raises fundamental questions about the use of force by the US military and the need for greater transparency and accountability in times of conflict. As one former Pentagon official noted, "It's a gross devolution from US best practices in targeting, civilian harm mitigation, civilian harm investigation and response."
I mean, 61 people killed? It's just heartbreaking. And the thing that really gets me is that the US military denied any involvement, but then comes out that JSOC was behind it all... like, what even is that?! 
the fact that 61 ppl got killed is insane & theres no one answerin 4 it 
like whats goin on at jsoc 
anyways gotta feel 4 the victims n their fams 
. How can the US military just carry out an indiscriminate attack on a migrant detention center without even checking if it was a legitimate target? 
It's like they're above the law or something 
. This whole thing reeks of a lack of accountability and a total disregard for human life 
I highly doubt it. We've seen time and time again that American military witnesses get interviewed while civilians are ignored, so it's just going to be more of the same 
. The Biden admin's promises of improvement sound nice, but at this point, I'm not holding my breath 
.
. It's like we've just given up on humanity altogether 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this news... it sounds like the US military was just randomly bombing a migrant detention center in Yemen without telling anyone that it was going to happen. Like, what's up with that? 
this is so disturbing... i mean, who targets a migrant detention center without any distinction between civilians and combatants? the fact that 61 people lost their lives and many more are injured is just heartbreaking 
. i'm all for a strong national defense, but not at the cost of innocent lives 
.
. it's just not right that American witnesses get interviewed while civilians do, that's just basic human rights stuff 
. and what about the JSOC organization, are they above the law? 
. it's time for the US military to get its act together and prioritize civilian protection 
.
. Can't believe the US military is accused of killing 61 innocent migrants in Yemen. The fact that they're denying responsibility but JSOC might be behind it is super suspicious 
The US needs to take responsibility for this atrocity and provide reparations ASAP 
. It's heartbreaking to think about all those families who've been affected by this senseless violence 
.