The United States launched a fresh wave of air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah province on Saturday, days after an earlier attack killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 150, according to reports by the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV channel.

The channel said that 13 air strikes targeted Hodeidah’s port and airport, escalating tensions in the war-torn country. It added that three people were also killed and four others wounded in US strikes on the al-Thawra, Bani Matar, and al-Safiah districts in the capital Sanaa.

The renewed military action follows a US strike two days earlier on Ras Isa port in Hodeidah, a key area under Houthi control. The attack drew widespread condemnation, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing deep concern over the rising civilian toll.

"I am gravely concerned about the recent escalation and urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians," Mr Guterres said in a statement.

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, condemned the US operations and vowed to continue their actions. Houthi official Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi said the "American enemy’s crimes" would not deter Yemeni support for Gaza, but would "strengthen their steadfastness and resilience."

The US administration, led by President Donald Trump, announced a broad military campaign against the Houthis earlier this month, citing the need to safeguard maritime routes in the Red Sea — critical for global trade. Washington accuses the group of endangering international shipping lanes.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have reportedly carried out more than 100 attacks on vessels they allege are connected to Israel, in retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.

The Houthis, who control vast areas of northern Yemen including Sanaa, first emerged in the 1990s. Their influence grew sharply in 2014 when they seized the capital and forced then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile, plunging Yemen into a prolonged conflict that continues to devastate the country.

The latest US strikes risk further inflaming a region already roiled by multiple conflicts, raising fears of a broader escalation beyond Yemen’s borders.