May 11, 2025
Borkena
Toronto – Three Ethiopians were reportedly killed in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen—one of the countries where Ethiopian migrants seek asylum in the region.
A total of 68 people were killed, and 47 others were wounded in serious condition due to the attack, BBC Amharic reported on Saturday, citing Houthi-run Al-Masirah Television. The attack occurred about two weeks ago. Many of the victims are said to be migrants from African countries, including Ethiopia.
The source further reported speaking to Ethiopians living in Yemen. According to these Ethiopians, many of the victims may have been Ethiopian.
The attack targeted Sa’dah city in Yemen, with the airstrike taking place in the early morning of April 28.
BBC Amharic confirmed that three of the victims were cousins, as verified by family members. They were identified as Tseruy, Hiwot, and Mareg, reportedly from the Tse’ra Womberta district in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. After crossing into Yemen, they ended up in the Rago area, where they stayed for an unspecified period before being arrested for “illegal presence” in the country.
According to their sisters—who had been in contact with them via phone from Saudi Arabia—they were transferred to a prison facility in Sa’dah about two weeks before the airstrike.
The sisters often received messages saying, “We are ok. Do not worry.” Amleset, one of the sisters, was quoted as saying, “In fact, they did not have easy access to a phone in prison. However, they used to get in touch with us here in Saudi. They would say, ‘Do not worry. We are ok.’”
They spoke with their sister on Sunday—just one day before the early Monday morning attack that claimed their lives. According to the source, the victims had also spoken to their parents in Tigray on the eve of the Easter holiday.
The families in Tigray have been informed of their deaths and are devastated.
In addition to those killed, Ethiopians were also wounded in the attack. Citing Reuters, the source reported that an Ethiopian survivor, injured in the attack, was heard screaming “Enate” (which translates to “my mother”).
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