Concerns A U.S. airstrike on a fuel vessel near the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa oil terminal in western Yemen has resulted in injuries to three Russian sailors, one seriously, the Russian Embassy in Yemen confirmed on Wednesday. The incident adds a new layer of international concern to the ongoing conflict.
According to a statement obtained by Barran Press, the vessel Seven Pearls, carrying 22 Russian crew members, was struck while reportedly attempting to unload fuel at the port, which is under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis. One sailor sustained severe eye injuries and has been transferred to a hospital in Houthi-held Sana’a, while two others suffered minor wounds. The remaining 19 crew members are aboard the ship, now anchored away from the impact zone.
The Russian Embassy stated it is coordinating with the vessel’s owner to arrange medical evacuation and is actively engaging with Russian nationals in Yemen, pledging all necessary assistance.
The Iran-backed Houthis acknowledged the U.S. strike, which occurred on April 26. Their foreign minister, Jamal Amer, representing the unrecognized Houthi government, claimed the targeted vessel was preparing to discharge fuel at Ras Isa in defiance of international restrictions on ports under their control. He identified the injured sailors as Roman Kashpur, Igor Kvazishenko, and Artyom Vanin, though independent verification of these details remains pending.
The United States has intensified its campaign of airstrikes against Houthi infrastructure since March 15, with the stated goal of disrupting the group’s financial and military networks. Last week, the U.S. military announced it had destroyed the fuel terminal at Ras Isa in a series of 14 airstrikes, asserting the port’s significance in sustaining the Iran-backed militia’s operations.

This escalation followed repeated warnings from Washington to international companies against engaging with Houthi-held ports, which the U.S. views as supporting a designated foreign terrorist organization. On April 28, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three companies and three vessels accused of delivering refined petroleum products to these ports in violation of U.S. law.
The U.S. re-designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 5 under Executive Order 14175. Secretary of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce cited the threats posed by the Houthis to U.S. personnel, regional allies, and global maritime trade as the justification for the decision, fulfilling a key pledge made by President Donald Trump upon assuming office in January. The injury of Russian nationals in a U.S. strike is likely to draw international attention and potentially complicate diplomatic efforts.