YEMEN’S Houthi led government alleged today that a United States air attack hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others.

The military did not acknowledge carrying out the strike.

The attack on Yemen's Saada governorate is the latest incident to see African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations killed while crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

It also likely will renew questions from activists about the US campaign, known as "Operation Rough Rider," which has been targeting the Yemenis.

The US military's Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive air attacks.

The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to post sensitive details about the attacks.

"To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations," Central Command said.

"We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we've done or what we will do."

It did not immediately respond to questions from reporters about the alleged strike in Saada.

Graphic footage aired by the al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Yemeni Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.

The Yemeni Civil Defence organisation said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.

The International Organisation for Migration, a United Nations agency, said it was "deeply saddened" by the deaths at the prison.

"It is imperative that all efforts are made to avoid harm to civilians and to protect those most vulnerable in these challenging circumstances," it said.

Ethiopians and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the war-torn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work.

Monday's US attack recalled a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition in 2022 on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a UN report later said.

"The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility," the UN report added.

That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the war between the coalition and the Yemenis.

US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far

Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said.

The US military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes.

The US is targeting the Yemenis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel.

The Yemenis are carrying out their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians who are being devastated by Israel's genocidal attacks in Gaza.