Houthi-affiliated al-Masira TV reported late Friday that the airport in the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeidah in Yemen was hit by US and British airstrikes.
The US and British “attack” targeted “Hodaida International Airport,” a strategically important port, the network said.
According to the same source, which did not provide information on casualties, the bombing occurred a few hours after the attacks on the island of Kamaran, north of Hodaida, in the southern Red Sea.
Neither Washington nor London made any comment.
The port of Hodaida is of strategic importance. Yemen remains mired in a decade-long war and around 80% of its population is in need of humanitarian aid. According to the UN, 70% of all imported goods and 80% of humanitarian aid arrive in the country through this port.
The Ansar Allah (“Supporters of God”) movement, better known by the family name of its leaders, the Houthis, has been launching drone and missile attacks on commercial and warships in the Red Sea and Gulf waterways since November in a show of “solidarity” with Palestinians in the besieged and devastated Gaza Strip, where a war between Israel and Hamas has been raging since October 7. In their dozens of attacks, the Houthis have reportedly sunk at least two merchant ships, captured a third and killed at least three sailors.
In response to these attacks, the US – Israel’s main international ally – formed an international force in December to protect shipping in this maritime area.
The European Union has also deployed a naval force, under Operation Shields, to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Source: AMPE-dpa