In this image made from video, smoke rises after a blast in Sanaa, Yemen. AP
The extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn't immediately clear, though the number of strikes appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15.
An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities.
Initial reports from the Houthis described at least seven people being hurt in the attacks Friday in Sanaa, Yemen's capital that the rebels have held since 2014. Other strikes targeted the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, Yemen's Saada, al-Jawf, Amran, and Marib governorates.
The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge what at those sites had been targeted, other than Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both civilian and military traffic.
An Associated Press video showed one bomb dropping into Sanaa, with a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as many people were awake in the final days of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Other areas hit included mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran. The Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news network described communication networks going down after the attacks, which included at least 19 strikes there alone.
The U.S. military's Central Command, which now has the authority from the White House to conduct offensive strikes in Yemen without prior approval, did not immediately acknowledge having conducted any strikes. The command, which under Biden offered details on individual strikes, has not provided that information in this campaign.
The new airstrike campaign, which the Houthis say have killed at least 57 people, began after the rebels threatened to target Israeli-linked ships again in response to Israel blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip as it resumed its genocidal war on Palestinian territory.
The Houthis had previously targeted over 100 vessels linked to Tel Aviv with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their campaign against ships from November 2023 to January of this year. They also launched attacks on American warships, though none have been hit so far.
The rebels have said they will halt attacks once a ceasefire is in place in Gaza and humanitarian aid is allowed back into the war-ravaged territory. They previously paused attacks during the first phase of a ceasefire that lasted six weeks before Israel broke the agreement by resuming attacks on Gaza.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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