The Houthis say the US strikes have targeted several cities across Yemen News of the Houthis

The attack hit the major port city of Hodeidah and the capital, Sanaa, Houthi-run media and US sources said.

US forces have attacked several cities in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and the key port city of Hodeidah, according to the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV network.

Four strikes were targeted in Sanaa and seven in Hodeidah on Friday, Al Masirah said. AFP news agency reporters also reported hearing large explosions in both cities.

The Hodeidah strikes hit the airport and the Katheib area, which has a military base controlled by the Houthis, Al Masirah said. Images on social media verified by the Al Jazeera fact-checking company showed huge amounts of smoke from the strikes in Hodeidah.

At least one strike hit Dhamar province, while the airstrikes took place in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa, the Houthi news office said.

There is no current comment from the US. However, the Associated Press news agency quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the country carried out the strikes with the aim of targeting weapons systems, bases and other equipment used by the Iran-backed Houthis.

Military aircraft and warships bombed Houthi strongholds in about five locations, AP said, citing officials.

Al Masirah, which did not elaborate on the damage or casualties, said the United Kingdom was also involved in the attack.

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

Washington has launched multiple strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since January in response to the group’s naval attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis say their strikes, which have disrupted maritime traffic in the world’s most important waterway, have targeted ships linked to Israel and are aimed at showing solidarity with the Palestinians and opposing Israel’s war on Gaza.

Now that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, is escalating with Israeli strikes that have killed around 2,000 people in Lebanon, the Houthis are also demanding that Israel stop its attacks there.

‘Yemen will not be stopped by force’

Israel also attacked Yemen with Israeli strikes in Hodeidah last month that killed at least five people after the group said it had targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion airport with a missile.

The latest strikes came a day after the Houthis claimed to have carried out a drone attack on Tel Aviv. Israel’s military said it intercepted a “suspicious target” in central Israel overnight without providing further details.

The attack also comes days after the Houthis threatened “increased military operations” against Israel after it apparently shot down a US warplane flying over Yemen. And last week, the group claimed responsibility for attacks against US warships.

Rebels fired more than a dozen missiles and antiship cruise missiles and launched two drones at three US ships passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, but all were intercepted by the navy’s killers, according to several US officials.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not yet been made public.

On Friday, thousands of people took to the streets of Sanaa to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and the people of Lebanon amid Israel’s intensified attacks.

“The violence in the capital and the governors of Yemen after the … solidarity march with Lebanon and Gaza is a big attempt to scare our people,” Houthi official Hashem Sharaf al-Din told Al Masirah.

“Yemen will not be deterred by this attack and will continue its determination to confront the enemy with all its strength.”