British and US forces have launched an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iranian-backed militant group defied a warning to stop targeting ships in the Red Sea, according to reports.
Reuters said four US officials confirmed strikes had begun.
In addition, three explosions were heard in the country’s capital of Sanaa, according to eyewitnesses quoted by the news agency.
One of the US officials told Reuters the strikes had been carried out by aircraft, ships and submarine.
Houthi official Abdulsalam Jahaf also wrote on social media that “America, Britain and Israel are launching raids”.
“We will discipline them God willing,” he added.
Mr Jahaf said the cities of Dhamar, Saada and Hodeidah, which is home to the country’s principal port on the Red Sea, had also been targeted, as well as the capital.
Sky’s US partner NBC News said it had also been told by two officials that US and British forces were targeting multiple locations in Yemen with fighter jets and navy destroyers. They said the ships fired Tomahawk cruise missiles.
It comes after Grant Shapps, the UK defence secretary, accused Iran of meddling and declared “enough is enough” in an escalating crisis that could ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Overnight on Tuesday, a Royal Navy warship shot down seven drones in an operation with US naval vessels and jets to repel the largest Houthi drone and missile attack to date.
Middle East crisis – latest: US and UK ‘launch strikes against Houthi targets’
The UK, US and other states issued a warning to the group a week ago to end the targeting of commercial shipping or “bear the responsibility of the consequences”.
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