Death toll from US airstrikes in Yemen has climbed to 53

Kathmandu — Yemen’s Houthi rebels say the death toll from a US airstrike has risen to 53.

The rebels’ health ministry said in a statement that five children were among the dead. The US had launched a “decisive and powerful” airstrike against the Houthi rebels on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump had said the strike was prompted by an attack by Houthi rebels on a ship in the Red Sea.

The US said some of the dead included senior Houthi rebels.

Meanwhile, Houthi rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said “as long as the US attack on Yemen continues, the Houthi rebels will continue to target American ships in the Red Sea.”

Trump said the Houthi rebels’ piracy, violence and terror had caused billions of dollars in damage and put lives at risk.