ADEN, Yemen, March 30 (Xinhua) -- As Muslims worldwide marked Eid al-Fitr this week with feasts and family gatherings, celebrations in Yemen were tinged with the grim realities of war, economic collapse, and renewed U.S. airstrikes targeting the Houthi group, underscoring the deep fractures in a nation enduring more than a decade of conflict.

In the early hours of Sunday, as Yemenis prepared for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, American warplanes struck Houthi military sites in the northern province of Saada and in the capital, Sanaa. The Iran-aligned group, which controls much of northern Yemen, claimed its forces had engaged in clashes with U.S. vessels in the Red Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Truman, in the preceding 24 hours.

"Our operations will continue and expand in defense of our people and in solidarity with Palestine until the aggression ends," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised address, framing the group's maritime attacks as part of a broader campaign against Israel's war in Gaza.

Yet for many Yemenis, the escalating violence and deepening poverty eclipsed any sense of festivity. In interviews across Houthi-held territories, residents described an Eid defined by exhaustion and deprivation, with families struggling to afford necessities, let alone holiday traditions like new clothes or sweets.

"Eid used to be pure joy. Now, it's airstrikes and hunger," said Khalid Nasser, 42, a teacher in Sanaa. "We're trapped between bombs from the sky and collapse on the ground."

In Saada, a Houthi stronghold that has been the focus of intensive U.S. airstrikes, an elderly resident described a holiday stripped of its rituals. "Parents can't buy gifts or host gatherings. Many hide at home, ashamed they can't provide," he said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

Even in the southern city of Aden, where Saudi-backed forces hold sway, Eid was subdued. "People are grieving for Gaza, yes, but also for themselves," said Samir al-Jabri, a shopkeeper. "After years of war, how much more can we endure?"

The United States has been stepping up strikes on Houthi targets since mid-March. It cited the need to protect Red Sea shipping routes disrupted by the group's attacks. But critics argue that the campaign is worsening civilian suffering in a country where more than 18 million people depend on humanitarian aid.

Still, glimmers of resilience persist. Families shared stories of clinging to simple traditions -- cooking meager meals, visiting neighbors, and praying for peace.

"Eid's spirit isn't in fancy clothes or feasts," said Omar Hassan, a community elder in Sanaa. "It's in our hearts, even now."

In Hodeidah, a port city battered by coalition airstrikes, 24-year-old Amal Saleh swept her home and dressed in her least-frayed clothes. "We keep our customs alive," she said. "It's how we resist despair."

The Houthis, who seized Sanaa in 2014, have faced near-daily U.S.-led bombings in recent weeks. Yet their grip on northern Yemen remains firm, and peace talks have stalled. United Nations officials warn that the country's humanitarian crisis -- already the world's worst -- could deepen without urgent intervention. Enditem

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