Residents of Hodeidah told that “a huge explosion” rocked the city before dawn. The US Central Command has yet to comment…reports Asian Lite News
A warplane belonging to the US-British navy coalition launched an airstrike on Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday early morning, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
“The strike hit near the Hodeidah University,” southern the city, according to the report. No further details or casualties were reported, as the Houthi rebel group, which controls much of northern Yemen, rarely discloses its losses.
Residents of Hodeidah told that “a huge explosion” rocked the city before dawn. The US Central Command has yet to comment.
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Since November last year, the rebel group has been launching rocket and drone attacks targeting what it described as “Israeli-linked” ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In response, the US-British navy coalition stationed in the waters has been conducting sporadic air raids and strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group.
Last month, two vessels sustained damage after being hit with missiles and a sea drone off Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Both vessels reported that their crews were safe.
One of the vessels, the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Cordelia Moon, reported being hit by an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) 64 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.
The vessel, which was in ballast condition, was damaged on its port side tank, British security firm Ambrey and the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said, adding that it was proceeding to its next port of call.
The vessel had earlier reported seeing four splashes in the water close to it, which a maritime security source said were attempted missile attacks.
The second vessel, which sources said was a Liberia-flagged bulker, sustained damage after it was hit by a missile about 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, Ambrey and maritime security sources said. The firm said it was bound for Suez.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants later claimed the attack on the Cordelia Moon, saying that it was struck with eight ballistic and winged missiles, a drone and an uncrewed surface boat.
They also said they had targeted a third ship, Marathopolis, in the Indian Ocean with a drone and with a winged missile.
Houthis have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since last November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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