Sanaa (EFE).- United States warplanes launched at least 25 air strikes on Monday against Houthi rebel positions on the front line with Yemen’s internationally recognized government forces south of the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeidah.
Al-Masirah television, a platform for the rebel movement, said in a brief statement that the wave of bombardments had targeted the Tuhayta district since Monday morning without giving further details.
It is the highest number of strikes by US forces on a single Houthi-controlled district since Washington launched an air campaign against the Shia group on Mar. 15 to undermine its military capabilities and deter it from launching operations against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The strikes in Tuhayta, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Hodeidah, come amid reports that Yemeni government forces and allied groups could move to seize the strategic city with US air cover.
The so-called Joint Forces, a group of anti-Houthi armed groups backed by the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, are on the other side of Tuhayta.
This formation reported the attacks on its website, noting that the US bombings targeted rebel sites and barracks in various parts of Tuhayta.
«The strikes were followed by successive explosions that rocked the area, probably caused by strikes on Houthi weapons depots,» the Joint Forces said, adding that the bombings were «concentrated on the front lines» near the pro-government group’s positions.
They also noted that these attacks came «at a time when the southern districts of the province have witnessed significant Houthi movements in recent weeks, including the deployment of large military reinforcements consisting of hundreds of fighters and vehicles in the clash areas.»
The Joint Forces also reported that the insurgents «continued to intensify the planting of landmines in areas close to the front lines south of Hodeidah.»
In recent months, the Houthis have reinforced their positions south of Hodeidah to counter a possible ground assault by pro-government forces to retake the vital port city, one of the most strategic sites held by the Iran-backed rebels. EFE
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