By JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An American airstrike in April on a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that killed over 60 detained African migrants should be investigated as a possible war crime, activists said Wednesday.

The call by Amnesty International renews scrutiny on the April 28 strike in Yemen’s Saada province. The attack came as part of an intense campaign of airstrikes waged under U.S. President Donald Trump targeting rebels for disrupting shipping through the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The U.S. military’s Central Command has yet to offer any explanation for the strike on the prison, which previously had been hit by a Saudi-led coalition also fighting against the Houthis and had been known to hold detained African migrants trying to reach Saudi Arabia through the war zone.

“We take all reports of civilian harm seriously and are working to release the assessment results for Operation Rough Rider soon,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command.

Dozens killed

After the strike, the Houthis displayed debris likely from two, 250-pound precision-guided GBU-39 small-diameter bombs used by the U.S. military, Amnesty said. Survivors interviewed by Amnesty, all Ethiopian migrants detained while trying to reach Saudi Arabia, told the rights group that they saw no Houthi fighters posted inside the building.

Amnesty said the strike appeared to be an “indiscriminate attack” as it assessed there was no clear military objective. International law prohibits striking sites like hospitals and prisons unless the structures are being used to plan attacks or stockpile weapons — and even then, every precaution should be made to avoid hurting civilians.

Amnesty said the Houthis recently put the death toll in the strike at 61, lower than the 68 it initially reported. Gunfire could be heard in footage filmed after the airstrikes, with the Houthis saying their guards fired warning shots around the time of the strikes.

The April strike recalled a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis in 2022 on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the U.N. said.

The Houthis denied any misconduct in the April strike, but Amnesty noted the rebels’ “ongoing crackdown on … activists, journalists, human rights defenders and humanitarian workers” limited its ability to investigate. The Houthis hold at least 59 United Nations staffers and more aid group workers, with the rebels seizing electronics at U.N. offices in recent days. The Iranian-backed rebels, under economic pressure, also increasingly have been threatening Saudi Arabia in recent weeks as well.

“I didn’t actually believe that it was possible that the U.S. would carry out an airstrike on the same compound, resulting in a significant level of civilian harm,” said Kristine Beckerle, Amnesty’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director. “It kind of defies belief that the U.S. would not have known.”

US campaign believed to have killed other civilians

The U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis began over the rebels’ attacks on shipping under U.S. President Joe Biden. However, the attacks sharply escalated under Trump’s Operation Rough Rider, hitting some 1,000 targets in Yemen.

Those strikes hit power stations, mobile phone infrastructure and military targets in Yemen. However, activists say the attacks also killed civilians, particularly an April strike on an oil depot that killed more than 70 people.

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Airwars, a United Kingdom-based group studying casualties in aerial warfare, believes strikes in the Operation Rough Rider at least 224 civilians during the weekslong campaign — nearly as many civilians killed over more than 20 years of American strikes on the country.

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Kurilla, CENTCOM’s former commander, promised details on civilian casualties in the Yemen campaign “absolutely” would be made public during congressional testimony in June, though that has yet to happen.

“One of the things that was relatively devastating is again you’re talking about people who left Ethiopia to travel to Yemen because they’re trying to get to the Gulf” to earn money for their families back home, Beckerle said. “They have to have their family send money to them in Yemen to deal with the effects of the injury.”

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a sexual assault case reported Tuesday night in Vadnais Heights. Anyone with information about the attack or suspect or who has video footage from the scene is asked to come forward.

A woman reported she was walking just before 8 p.m. on the sidewalk near the intersection of Centerville Road and Pondview Drive when a man ran up from behind, forced her off the path and sexually assaulted her, according to the sheriff’s office.

After the attack, the woman ran to a nearby home seeking help and was then taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect fled north from the scene toward Ramsey County Road 96.

The suspect is described as a white male with brown, curly hair (short on the sides) and no facial hair. He was believed to be in his mid-20s, stood about 6 feet tall and had a muscular build. He was wearing a black jacket, black pants and glasses, which the victim removed from his face during the struggle, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies and K9s searched the area, collected evidence and interviewed nearby residents and employees at businesses who may have witnessed or overheard the attack.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about the suspect, or who has video footage from the area near the time of the assault, is asked to call the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office at 651-266-7331.

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Kids ‘n Kinship provides friendships and positive role models to children and youth ages 5-16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult. Here’s one of the youth waiting for a mentor:

First name: Aaron

Age: 9

Interests: Aaron loves sports. He hopes to play on a soccer or basketball team, and would like to learn how to play football. His favorite things about school are recess and lunch, and math and gym are OK, too.  He is a pretty picky eater, he says, and his favorite food is noodles.

Personality/Characteristics: His guardian describes Aaron as “very smart, very sweet, and little sensitive.” Aaron likes being around people and likes to be funny. He says he has a lot of friends and was proud of himself for helping a new girl at school during recess.

Goals/dreams: Aaron’s 3 wishes would be 1) to have the super power to stop time or be invisible, 2) to have infinite money to buy a big house, but not mansion, and 3) to get a new car for his mom. When he grows up he dreams of being a famous soccer player and becoming a CEO of a new phone company.  His guardian hopes a mentor will be another supportive adult in his life, and someone to help answer all his curiosities about life and give new experiences as he grows!

For more information: Aaron is waiting for a mentor through Kids n’ Kinship in Dakota County. To learn more about this youth mentoring program and the 39+ youth waiting for a mentor, sign up for an Information Session, visit www.kidsnkinship.org or email programs@kidsnkinship.org. For more information about mentoring in the Twin Cities outside of Dakota County, contact MENTOR MN at mentor@mentormn.org or fill out a brief form at www.mentoring.org/take-action/become-a-mentor/#search.

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If you missed the just-ended 2025 Alaska cruise season, don’t worry your pretty little parka about it — your dream of glacier-gazing and totem-trail trekking is already within reach.

Alaska’s cruise season runs from late April to early October, but savvy travelers know the journey begins months earlier, when booking opens and prime itineraries start to fill. Still, many wait until spring to get serious about making that salmon-scented sojourn a reality.

Whether you work with a travel agent, deal directly with a cruise line or go it alone, it’s worth doing your homework. The ship you choose — and where it sails — can shape the entire experience. That’s true of any cruise, of course, but it’s especially critical in Alaska, a bucket-list destination where itinerary, cruise line and vessel truly matter.

Because this could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, let’s take some of the gamble out of your investment of time, money and expectations. By covering the basics, we’ll help ensure your Alaska adventure delivers a gold rush of awe, not a chorus of ah, shucks.

Charting the Inside Passage — and beyond

Alaska’s largest ports may peddle the same punny T-shirts and mass-produced snowdomes, but each has its own rhythm, history and bragging rights. Some itineraries favor glacier theatrics while others lean into cultural immersion, honoring the Tlingit people and Russian heritage. Whether you’re chasing wildlife, wilderness or waterfront charm, your choice of ports will shape not just your selfies, but your memories. Most weeklong cruises hit at least three of the big four: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. Let’s take a quick flyover of each.

An orca sighting brings a thrill to whale watchers in Juneau’s Auke Bay. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Juneau has perhaps the nation’s most forgettable capitol building — a drab neoclassical shoebox so uninspiring even the tour buses pretend it’s not there — and yet the widest and wildest range of shore excursions are offered here. This port is a launchpad for whale watching, and Juneau Tours (juneautours.com) is among the best at finding humpbacks and an occasional pod of orcas. Other popular options include the “Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip” with great views of the namesake glacier, and Mount Roberts Tramway, a high-wire wonder on clear days. Between all the shops, galleries, restaurants and bars within walking distance of most of the docks, Juneau (traveljuneau.com) has plenty to see and do without an organized tour, too.

Ketchikan’s iconic welcome arch proudly declares the port city as “Salmon Capital of the World.” (Photo by David Dickstein)

Ketchikan is compact, steeped in salmon lore and easy to explore on foot. Creek Street features shops on stilts and traces of its red-light past. Totem-rich Saxman Native Village offers a curated glimpse into Tlingit heritage, where towering cedar poles whisper ancestral stories. Just across town, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show (alaskanlumberjackshow.com) trades reverence for ruckus, complete with whirring chainsaws and roaring crowds. Modern-day Paul Bunyans compete in axe throwing, log rolling, speed climbing and carving, all wrapped in a scripted showdown that’s fast, loud and proudly touristy.

Sitka National Historical Park features approximately 20 totem poles along its forested trails. (Photo by David Dickstein)

While in Sitka, enjoy majestic Sitka National Historical Park, where trekking along totem-rich trails is free and just a short scenic stroll from the city center. For cruise tours that soar and splash, look to the “Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest” and bird-rehabbing Alaska Raptor Center.

Skagway tour highlights include the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and “Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Flightseeing” excursions. No visit to Skagway is complete without at least a peek inside the historic and colorful Red Onion Saloon.

Visitors to Icy Strait Point pause to admire a double rainbow arching over the shoreline. (Photo by David Dickstein)

A worthy stop on many itineraries is Icy Strait Point, a locally grounded alternative to the state’s busier cruise hubs. Built around a restored salmon cannery, circa 1912, Icy Strait Point (icystraitpoint.com) blends Tlingit cultural experiences with exhilarating excursions, locally owned shops and good grub and grog. Their famous Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary provides liquid courage to adults skittish about riding the world’s largest zipline or a gondola that climbs to a 1,550-foot summit.

The Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary is a house specialty served at Icy Strait Point. (Photo by David Dickstein)

We’d be remiss not to mention a multi-day, pre- or post-cruise excursion to Denali National Park, home of Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak. Roughly one in five Alaska cruise passengers venture inland for this add-on generally offered with one-way itineraries.

Whale of a season ahead in 2026

An estimated 1.8 million passengers will cruise to the Last Frontier next year. If these figures from government and industry sources hold, that will mark a third straight season of record-breaking tourism. Part of the projected growth stems from three brands making their Alaska debut. Together, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection account for less than 7% of the 728 sailings projected for 2026, dwarfed by the alpha grizzlies leading our roundup of cruise lines making waves in Alaskan waters next season.

Princess Cruises (princess.com) — The premium-class line is charting nearly 180 voyages next year aboard eight ships, including the new 4,300-guest Star Princess. Itineraries — both roundtrip and one-way — leave from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, one of two gateways near Anchorage (the other being Seward).

Holland America, which has been sailing to Alaska longer than the Last Frontier has been a state, will make 135 voyages in 2026 on six ship, including the Westerdam, shown here. (Courtesy of Holland America via TNS)

Holland America Line (hollandamerica.com) — As the first major cruise line to operate in Alaska, this premium-class brand draws on what will be 79 years of experience next season. “Longer than any other cruise line and longer than it’s been a state,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management. That legacy affords guests preferred berth positions, maximizing port time, along with deeper access to Glacier Bay National Park. The venerable line is slated for 135 cruises aboard six ships — Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam — ranging from 1,432 to 2,650 passengers. Select voyages offer an optional, industry-exclusive overland tour into Canada’s Yukon Territory, with part of the route retracing the original Gold Rush Trail of 1898.

Norwegian Bliss docked in Juneau, Alaska’s most visited cruise port. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com) — When it comes to consumer choice in 2026, the Last Frontier is anything but least for NCL, which is deploying five amenity-rich, mainstream-class ships for 87 sailings. NCL’s Bliss, Encore and Joy — three of the line’s impressive Breakaway Plus-class ships — will anchor a Seattle-based schedule of seven- to 10-night roundtrip sailings. Norwegian Jade (2,352 guests) will run weeklong itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier. For travelers aiming to conquer the 49th and 50th states in one go, Norwegian Spirit offers four 16-night voyages departing from either Vancouver or Honolulu.

Royal Caribbean International (royalcaribbean.com) — From skydiving simulators and robotic bartenders to classic cruise comforts, this mainstream-class line blends innovation with variety across its four-ship Alaska fleet. Serenade, Voyager, Anthem and Ovation — their full names all ending in “… of the Seas” — carry between 2,490 and 4,180 guests, and will sail a combined 79 seven-night roundtrips from Seattle and Vancouver.

Norwegian Bliss returns in 2026 for her eighth summer sailing to Alaska from Seattle. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Celebrity Cruises (celebritycruises.com) — A trio of premium-class ships will mix modern luxury with glacier-studded scenery on 56 seven-night sailings from Vancouver, Seward and Seattle. The 2,918-passenger Edge returns for a third season, bringing with it a unique outward-facing design featuring the Magic Carpet — the world’s first cantilevered, floating platform at sea. Solstice (2,852 guests) and Summit (2,218) offer a more intimate, classic feel, along with what may be the industry’s finest collection of specialty dining rooms on a single ship.

Carnival Cruise Line (carnival.com) — Three Fun Ships will offer 53 itineraries for value-seeking cruisers in 2026. Miracle (2,124 passengers) and Spirit (2,700) will be homeported in Seattle for mostly weeklong sailings, while the 2,800-passenger Luminosa makes her Alaska debut from San Francisco. These roundtrips from the Bay Area include four sea days on 10-night itineraries — ideal for travelers who enjoy time on the open water.

Disney Cruise Line (disneycruise.com) — Promising mouse sightings — but not moose sightings — Disney ships helmed by co-captains Mickey and Minnie return to Alaska next season with 36 voyages from Vancouver. Their floating, premium-class theme parks, Wonder and Magic, each carry 2,713 guests and a cargo hold full of character charm.

MSC Cruises (msccruises.com) — The 3,223-guest Poesia, fresh off a major refurbishment that added the enviable MSC Yacht Club, is set for 20 roundtrips from Seattle. Club guests enjoy “ship within a ship” privileges that transform mainstream-category cruising into a temporary life of luxury.

Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com) — Virgin’s virgin season in Alaska has the adults-only, 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady making 14 roundtrip cruises of 7 to 12 nights from Seattle, plus two one-way sailings that either begin or end in Vancouver. Virgin falls into the premium cruise category.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com) — Offering an intimate, ultra-luxury experience aboard the all-suite 452-passenger Luminara, Ritz-Carlton will mark its Alaskan debut with 13 trips of seven to 11 nights between Vancouver and Whittier.

Windstar Cruises (windstarcruises.com) — Three of Star Seeker’s 13 itineraries next year will launch from Juneau, a port rarely used for embarkation. Vancouver and Seward will also serve as departure points for seven- to 12-night journeys aboard the 224-guest, boutique-style luxury yacht.

Passengers aboard the Norwegian Bliss capture the icy majesty of Dawes Glacier. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Azamara Cruises (azamara.com) — Specializing in small-ship cruising with a focus on destination immersion, Azamara, an upper-premium line, is taking guests to such quaint ports as Klawock and Wrangell on eight 10- and 11-night sails aboard the 702-passenger Pursuit.

Crystal (crystalcruises.com) — The gorgeous Crystal Symphony returns to Alaska in 2026 for the first time since 2019, offering seven ultra-luxury sailings from Vancouver and Seward. With longer port calls, curated shore excursions and intimate shipboard elegance, the 606-guest Symphony promises a refined lens on Alaska’s wild frontier for sails of seven to 11 nights. Crystal offers a four-day “Wild Whistler Adventure” pre-cruise extension on select Alaska sailings. Curated by Abercrombie & Kent, this add-on has guests traveling the Sea-to-Sky Highway in search of bonus wildlife and pinch-me moments.

A bald eagle perches on a spruce branch in Sitka, a classic sight in Southeast Alaska’s coastal wilderness. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Other cruise lines on Alaska’s 2026 docking docket include Cunard (cunard.com), National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions (expeditions.com), Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (rssc.com), Seabourn (seabourn.com), Silversea (silversea.com) and Viking (viking.com).

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