U.S. strikes kill at least 6 in Yemen's port city of Hodeida, say Houthi rebels

U.S. airstrikes in Hodeida kill six, Houthi rebels report.

U.S. airstrikes targeted areas around Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida, resulting in at least six fatalities and 16 injuries, according to Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The strikes specifically hit the al-Hawak district, which encompasses the city's airport—a site previously used by the rebels to launch attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Since the start of the U.S. airstrike campaign aimed at countering Houthi assaults on maritime vessels amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis report a total of 79 deaths.

Footage aired by the rebels' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed chaotic scenes of wounded individuals being transported to ambulances and rescuers searching through debris using mobile phone lights. The footage suggested that a residential neighborhood was among the targets.

U.S. airstrikes also reportedly hit Yemen’s Amran governorate, targeting telecommunications equipment, including sites near Jebel Aswad, or the “Black Mountain,” according to the Houthis. Additional strikes hit Jebel Nuqum, Dhamar, and Ibb, wounding three. The U.S. military’s Central Command has not acknowledged these specific attacks, consistent with its current policy.

Authorised by the White House since March 15, the command can conduct strikes at will. The American military “hasn't been providing any information on targets hit,” though the White House states that “over 200 strikes have been conducted so far.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking in the Oval Office on Monday alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to its air campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels. He warned that America was “not going to relent” and emphasised, “So we have a lot more options and a lot more pressure to apply. And we know, because we see the reports, how devastating this campaign has been in them. And we will not relent, reported AP.”

An Associated Press review found that the current U.S. military operation under President Donald Trump appears significantly broader than efforts during the Biden administration. The U.S. has shifted from focusing only on launch sites to striking rebel leadership and urban areas.

The intensified campaign began after the Houthis threatened to resume targeting “Israeli” ships in response to Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. The term “Israeli” ships is loosely applied by the rebels, potentially endangering numerous vessels.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships, sinking two and killing four sailors. They have also unsuccessfully targeted U.S. warships. The ongoing airstrikes have been linked by the Trump administration to a broader effort to pressure Iran over its advancing nuclear program.

(With AP input)