ISTANBUL

Yemen’s Houthi group announced Wednesday that US airstrikes on the capital Sanaa caused severe damage to the historic Al-Qashla Fortress.

The Ministry of Culture in the Houthi-controlled government condemned the overnight attack.

It considered the US targeting of the fortress “a flagrant violation of international agreements that criminalize attacks on historical and civilizational monuments.”

The statement confirmed that the attack caused significant damage to the ancient fortress, which carries national and cultural symbolism.

It pointed out “the importance of this archaeological landmark,” which crowns the highest peak of Mount Nuqum and represents one of the most prominent architectural and historical landmarks in Yemen.”

The statement called on all international organizations concerned with protecting human heritage “to halt such crimes, take urgent and serious action to protect human heritage, assume their legal and moral responsibilities and condemn this blatant aggression that targets the cultural heritage of humanity as a whole.”

Last month, US President Donald Trump said he had ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis and later threatened to "completely annihilate them."

The Houthis have targeted ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 50,000 people.​​​​​​​

The group halted attacks when a ceasefire in Gaza was declared in January between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas but resumed them after renewed Israeli airstrikes on the enclave last month.