Published: 10:31, March 12, 2024 | Updated: 11:48, March 12, 2024
US-UK coalition launches 9 airstrikes on targets in Yemen
By Xinhua

In this photo provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, Sea Ceptor missiles are fired from HMS Richmond shooting down two Houthi drones, March 9, 2024 in the Red Sea. (PHOTO / UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE VIA AP)

SANAA - Warplanes of the United States and Britain conducted nine airstrikes on Monday against Houthi military targets in Yemen's Hodeidah province on the Red Sea, according to local residents and Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Four airstrikes hit the area of Ras Issa in the northwestern district of al-Salif, three airstrikes hit in al-Arj area of the eastern district of Bajil, and two airstrikes hit in al-Taif area in the southern district of Durayhimi.

Hodeidah's residents described the explosions in Houthi sites as very powerful.

READ MORE: Explosion reported near commercial ship off Yemen coast

There were no comments yet from the coalition. In the meantime, the British maritime trade operations agency reported a new missile attack against a cargo ship in the international waters off Yemen's Hodeidah port city.

Last week, the Houthi missile attack caused large damage to a US cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden

The coalition's navy forces stationing in the Red Sea have been striking Houthi military targets since this January to deter the Houthis from attacking commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have been attacking cargo ships since mid-November last year in protest against the Israeli offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.

READ MORE: Ship evacuated after 3 killed in Houthis' Red Sea attacks

Last week, the Houthi missile attack caused large damage to a US cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden. In the week before, a British oil tanker struck by Houthi missiles sank to the bottom of the Red Sea.

The Houthis have said their attacks will not stop until Israel stops its war and lifts the blockade on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

ALSO READ: Yemen's Houthis claim attacks against cargo vessel, US warships

The Houthi rebels have been controlling several northern cities since the Yemeni civil war broke out in late 2014.

The group has tightened its grip on the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah since the 2018 UN-sponsored Stockholm Truce Agreement, which was backed by the United States and Britain, forcing the Yemeni internationally recognized government out.