SANAA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Fighter jets of the U.S.-British coalition naval forces on Thursday launched five airstrikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen's Hodeidah, reported the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV and local residents.
The Houthi television said one airstrike hit the port city's airport, while others struck sites in the area of al-Jah in the district of Bayt al-Faqih. No casualties or further details were provided.
Residents of Hodeidah said powerful explosions were heard in the Houthi-controlled airport and al-Jah area.
So far, there have been no comments yet from the U.S.-British coalition, which has been conducting airstrikes almost daily against Houthi targets since January to deter the group from launching attacks on international shipping transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier in the day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on social media platform X an explosion occurring astern of a vessel about 50 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's southern port city of Aden, giving no further details.
The Houthis have been attacking commercial ships since last November in what they said in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and have vowed to escalate until Israel stops its offensive against the Palestinian enclave.
The Houthi attacks have already disrupted international shipping in one of the world's busiest waterways, forcing many companies to re-route around Africa, resulting in extended transit times and elevated costs. ■
