SANAA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-British coalition launched on Tuesday two airstrikes on Yemen's western coastal province of Hodeidah, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

The strikes hit the district of Bajil, east of the province, the television said without detailing further.

Local residents said on social media platforms that they heard the sound of a warplane and saw explosions in the nearby Houthi military positions at the same time.

The U.S.-British maritime coalition has been targeting Houthi sites since January to deter the group from attacking commercial ships transiting the Red Sea.

The Houthis have hit dozens of Israeli-linked ships with ballistic missiles and drones since November last year in what they said in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, vowing to attack more until Israel ends its offensive in the enclave.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has seized control of several northern provinces since late 2014 after driving the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

After the 2018 UN-sponsored Stockholm agreement, supported by the United States and Britain, the Houthis consolidated their control over the strategic port city of Hodeidah, thwarting attempts by the internationally recognized Yemeni government to retake the city. Enditem

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