Three killed in US-attributed strikes on Yemen: Houthi officials

Sanaa, Yemen (AFP) - Yemen's Huthis claimed three people were killed and two others wounded in strikes on the western city of Hodeida, which they attributed to the United States, the health ministry said Tuesday.

"The American attack, which targeted the water management building in the district of al-Mansouriyah in the governorate of Hodeida with several strikes on Tuesday resulted in three deaths and two injuries, mostly employees," the spokesman for the Houthi health minister Anees Alasbahi said, adding it was a preliminary toll.

Local press earlier reported that American strikes targeted several areas under the control of Iran-backed Houthi rebels, including water infrastructure in Hodeida as well as three strikes in the region of Hajjah in the northwest.

Strikes also hit the rebel group's stronghold Saada in the north.

The United States has not confirmed it carried out these strikes.

Washington launched a military offensive on March 15 to stop Houthis from threatening vessels in key maritime routes.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the campaign of "over 200 successful strikes against the Houthis" had been effective.

The group had targeted passing ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as Israeli territory, from shortly after the outbreak of the Gaza war until a January ceasefire, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians.

Renewed US strikes followed Huthi's threats earlier this month to restart their attacks on vessels over Israel's aid blockade on Gaza, after truce talks there hit an impasse.

The campaign had crippled the vital route, which normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic, forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa.