President Donald Trump is under fire after posting a drone strike video on Truth Social that appears to show a U.S. bombing in Yemen. The footage, shared on April 4, depicts a grainy aerial view of dozens of individuals gathered in a circle before a sudden explosion engulfs the area. Trump captioned the video with: “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”
According to the Houthi-run SABA news agency, the strike hit a civilian gathering in Hodeida governorate during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, killing and wounding dozens. Local sources claim the group was unarmed and that the attack occurred while families were commemorating the holiday. Footage and eyewitness reports suggest there was no visible military activity at the site.
Trump’s public celebration of the strike has provoked widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and military ethics experts. Critics argue that posting the video—without verification of the targets—demonstrates a dangerous disregard for civilian life and international law. “The President of the United States should not be glorifying acts of war on social media, especially when civilian deaths are likely,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International.
This is not the first time the U.S. has faced backlash over drone strikes in Yemen. In 2013, a U.S. strike hit a wedding convoy, killing at least 12 civilians. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised alarms about the lack of accountability and the opacity of targeting procedures in the region.
The Pentagon has not commented on the specific strike or verified the video’s origin. When pressed at a press briefing, a spokesperson said only that the U.S. “continues to target hostile threats in accordance with the laws of armed conflict.”
Meanwhile, images from the aftermath of the bombing circulated widely on Yemeni media and social platforms, showing charred bodies, broken Eid decorations, and bloodstained garments strewn across the sand.
International observers warn that this incident could further inflame anti-American sentiment in the region and undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict. As of now, no investigation into the civilian deaths has been announced.
Trump has not removed the post or offered clarification.
The Biden administration had previously reduced the U.S. role in Yemen, citing humanitarian concerns. Trump, now in his second term, reversed course in early 2025, citing the need to “restore deterrence” after repeated Houthi attacks on commercial shipping lanes. This latest strike appears to be part of that broader escalation—and its political fallout is far from over.
