The US military has launched an offensive against the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, saying it has hit 15 targets.
The Pentagon said it carried out the attack using aircraft and warships to “protect freedom of navigation.”
Multiple explosions were reported in parts of Yemen’s major cities, including the capital Sanaa.
Since November, the Houthis have attacked around 100 ships in the Red Sea and sunk two. The rebels say the attack was in retaliation for Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said the attacks targeted Houthi weapons systems, bases and other equipment.
Houthi media said Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, was among the cities affected.
On Monday, the Houthis announced they had shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. The US military acknowledged the loss of the unmanned aircraft.
The Pentagon said last week that the Houthis had launched a “complex attack” against U.S. naval vessels in the region, but all weapons fired were shot down.
Sanaa has been free from bombing for the past two years, since fighting between Yemen’s warring parties has largely subsided.
As well as attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the Houthis launched several missiles and drones directly at Israel.
In July, a drone launched from Yemen attacked Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring 10 others. Last month, the group launched several missiles into Israel, including one that targeted Israel’s main airport.
In both cases, Israel counterattacked by attacking strongholds in Yemen.
Earlier this year, the United States, Britain and 12 other countries launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping lanes from the Houthis.
The Houthis are part of a network of Iranian-backed militant groups in the Middle East, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Gaza’s Hamas.
