US conducts fresh airstrikes in Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels say

Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Saturday the United States military carried out airstrikes on the capital Sanaa, as well as the Houthi-controlled coastal city of Hodeida. This comes two days after the US targeted a key Red Sea port in Yemen, resulting in more than 70 fatalities.

According to the rebels' media office, US forces conducted 13 airstrikes targeting an airport and port in Hodeida, along the Red Sea, and additional strikes in Sanaa.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The US military's Central Command, responsible for operations in the Middle East, was yet to respond to the Houthis' claim.

Meanwhile, Thursday's strike on Ras Isa port, also in Hodeida province, resulted in 74 deaths and 171 injuries, according to the Houthi-administered health ministry. This made it the deadliest strike in America's ongoing military campaign against the Iranian-supported rebels of Yemen.

Reacting to the Ras Isa attack, United Nations secretary-general António Guterres said he was "gravely concerned," as per a statement by his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. Guterres also condemned the Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Israel and shipping routes, the statement read.


"The secretary-general recalls that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected at all times, and he appeals to all to respect and protect civilians as well as civilian infrastructure," Dujarric said.

The strikes on Hodeida have been part of a month-long US bombing campaign, which American officials attribute to the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which is a vital international trade route, and strikes against Washington's ally, Israel.

The Houthis' health ministry has reported around 200 casualties from the US campaign since March 16.