US-led coalition airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah airport

Warplanes of the US-British coalition conducted two airstrikes on Hodeidah airport in western Yemen late Thursday night, as reported by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

The Hodeidah airport is situated in the southern part of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, which is under the control of the Houthi group. The airport has been closed since late 2014 when the Houthis seized several northern cities, including Hodeidah. Residents reported hearing significant explosions at the airport.

The conflict in the region has intensified with the Houthis launching anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones in support of Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks, targeting what the Houthis claim are Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, began in November of the previous year.

In retaliation, the U.S.-British naval coalition has been carrying out air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since January. This has led to an escalation, with the Houthis expanding their attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships.

Meanwhile, a missile splashed down in the waters of the Red Sea on Thursday this week, but caused no damage to a passing commercial vessel in an attack likely carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said.

The Houthis have launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months, demanding that Israel ends the war in Gaza. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the United States Maritime Administration.

Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. In recent weeks, the tempo of Houthi attacks has dropped, though the rebels have claimed shooting down U.S. surveillance drones.

On Tuesday, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed that they shot down an American drone over the country on the Arabian Peninsula.