US military launches new airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah and Marib
The US naval forces conducted three airstrikes on Hodeidah airport in Yemen’s Red Sea port city and five strikes on the Majzar district in Marib province, Yemeni media reported.
The Houthi-run al-Masirah TV did not provide details on casualties or damage, and there has been no official response from the US.
Hodeidah airport has been closed to civilian flights since late 2014, when the Houthi group seized several northern cities, including Hodeidah. The site has been a frequent target of US airstrikes, Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a sixth attack on US naval forces in the northern Red Sea since March 15, launching drones at warships escorting the USS Harry S. Truman.
The Houthis also said they launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, but Israeli military sources confirmed the missile was intercepted.
Tensions between the Houthis and the US have escalated following Washington’s renewed airstrikes on Yemen on March 15. The strikes came after Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli targets unless humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza.
The US military has since carried out further air attacks on Houthi targets, claiming the operations are meant to protect international shipping. According to Houthi-run health authorities, the latest airstrikes have killed dozens.
The Houthi rebel group, which controls much of northern Yemen, including the strategic Hodeidah port, has been engaged in conflict with the internationally recognized government since 2014.
US President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Houthis on Saturday, stating, “Hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before” if they continue their attacks.
On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea claimed the group had targeted the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea for the fourth time in 72 hours, using cruise missiles and drones to counter what they called a “hostile US air attack.”
