US military strikes terrorist-controlled Ras Isa fuel port; Houthis claim casualties

The United States military said on Thursday that it struck the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen to cut off a source of fuel for Iran-backed Houthi terrorists.

A Houthi "health ministry" spokesman said on social media the attack killed at least 17 people and injured dozens of the port's workers, though such statements routinely turn out to be false.

"Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists," the US Central Command said in a post on social media, adding that its aim was to hit the Houthis economically and not harm the people of Yemen.

The US began large-scale strikes last month against Iran-aligned Houthis, saying it won't stop unless they cease their attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The US also recently revealed the terror group was receiving ship movement information via a Chinese Government-linked satellite company.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Sarah Morland; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Tom Hogue)