DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes pummeled sites across Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels early Friday, including neighborhoods in the capital, Sanaa.
The extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn't immediately clear, though the number of strikes appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15.
An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under President Donald Trump appears more more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities.
Initial reports from the Houthis described at least seven people being hurt in the attacks Friday in Sanaa, Yemen's capital that the rebels have held since 2014. Other strikes hit around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, the rebel's stronghold of Saada and in Yemen's al-Jawf, Amran and Marib governorates.
The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge what at those sites had been targeted, other than Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both civilian and military traffic. Neighborhoods in the capital also are home to military and intelligence service sites — as well as crowded with civilians.
An Associated Press video showed one bomb dropping into Sanaa, with a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as many people were awake in the final days of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Other areas hit included mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran, where military camps and other installations are believed to be. The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news network described communication networks going down after the attacks, which included at least 19 strikes there alone.
The U.S. military's Central Command, which now has authority from the White House to strike offensively in Yemen without pre-approval, did not immediately acknowledge conducting any strikes. The command, which under Biden offered details on individual strikes, has not provided that information in this campaign.
The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis say have killed at least 57 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well.
The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far.
The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.
In this image made from video, smoke rises after a blast in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo)
ROME (AP) — For AC Milan, it could be the only way to qualify for Europe.
For Inter Milan, it’s the least important of the three competitions that the Nerazzurri are still competing in this season.
The rival clubs are in completely opposite forms entering the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
Milan was virtually eliminated from contesting for the Champions League spots with a 2-1 loss at Napoli in Serie A on Sunday that left the Rossoneri in ninth place — nine points behind fourth-place Bologna, which faces Empoli in the other semifinal on Tuesday.
Winning the Italian Cup guarantees a Europa League spot.
“It’s very frustrating, because we didn’t deserve this defeat,” Milan coach Sergio Conceicao said, referring to how Milan nearly equalized with some late fight at Napoli. “We want to change the outlook and on Wednesday we have the chance to do so.”
It will be the fourth derby of the season after Milan won the first two, followed by a draw.
Milan’s 2-1 win in Serie A in September served as a wakeup call for defending champion Inter, which now leads the Italian league. Then in January Milan came back from two goals down for a 3-2 win over Inter in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. The most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw in Serie A last month.
Milan hasn't won much else of importance this season, having been eliminated from the Champions League playoffs by Feyenoord last month.
Inter visits Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals next week and coach Simone Inzaghi recently raised the prospect of a treble like the one that Inter achieved under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
Although now he’s going one step further, adding the Club World Cup starting in June in the United States as another season goal.
“It’s more accurate to say four,” Inzaghi said of the possible number of titles that Inter can win.
Inter held on to its Serie A lead with a 2-1 win over Udinese on Sunday despite missing injured striker Lautaro Martinez, who picked up a knock with Argentina during the international break.
Lautaro will likely be unavailable again, although key defender Alessandro Bastoni could return from injury and link up again with Federico Dimarco on the right flank. Dimarco set up both of Inter’s goals against Udinese.
Milan will likely have Rafael Leao back in the starting lineup after the Portugal winger came off the bench against Napoli.
But Milan will still be without midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who underwent an appendectomy on Sunday.
Bologna has won five straight matches in Serie A and is on course to qualify for the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
Empoli eliminated Juventus in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
Bologna's only two Italian Cup titles came in 1970 and 1974, while Empoli has never won anything better than its three Serie B titles.
The Italian league will test in-stadium announcements explaining VAR decisions during the Italian Cup matches.
It will be the first time such a system is used in Italian soccer although it has already been trialed in England and Germany.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Inter Milan's head coach Simone Inzaghi argues with a referee as he received a red card during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Inter players thank the fans after a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Udinese at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
