The capital, Sanaa, and the important port city, Hodeidah, have both been targeted by US military action.

The military command in charge of US forces in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated on X on Friday that its forces "conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen today."

The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV network reported that four attacks were directed towards Sanaa and seven towards Hodeidah. Both cities' reporters for the AFP news agency claimed to have heard tremendous booms.

According to Al Masirah, the Hodeidah raids targeted the military installation under Houthi control as well as the airport in the Katheib neighbourhood. Images from social media that Al Jazeera's fact-checking team validated revealed massive smoke plumes from the Hodeidah strikes.

The Houthi media office added that airstrikes occurred in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa, and that at least one strike occurred in Dhamar province.

“These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” CENTCOM said in its post on X, adding that the strikes took place at around 1400GMT.

The Associated Press news agency, quoting unnamed US officials, said the strikes targeted weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Houthis.

Al Masirah, which did not elaborate on any damage or casualties, said the United Kingdom also participated in the attacks.

But the UK Ministry of Defence has categorically denied any involvement in the strikes, according to an official who spoke to the Al Jazeera office in London.

Washington has repeatedly struck Houthi targets in Yemen since January in response to attacks by the group on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their strikes, which have disrupted maritime traffic in a globally important waterway, target vessels linked to Israel and are intended to signal solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza.

Now as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, escalates with Israeli strikes killing about 2,000 people in Lebanon, the Houthis are also demanding Israel halt its assault there.