The United States and Britain have again bombed Houthi rebel positions in Yemen’s Hodeidah province (west), a news agency close to the armed Shiite movement reported on Wednesday.

Washington and London have not made any announcement at this stage.

The strikes took place in the Ras Issa area of ​​the city of Sulayf, according to the SABA news agency, while Alaa, a worker at a refinery there, told AFP he heard at least two explosions.

Since November, the Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that they say are linked to Israel, in a show of “solidarity” with Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, where war is raging between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Their attacks have forced many major shipping companies to suspend the passage of their ships through this strategically important area, through which about 12% of world trade passes.

In response, Washington — which recently re-blacklisted the Houthis as a “terrorist” organization — formed a multinational coalition in December to protect international shipping.

However, this coalition has not been able to stop the attacks, although the American and British armed forces have repeatedly launched bombings against rebel positions, installations and weapons systems since mid-January.

The impact of escalating tensions in the region is heavy on global trade. Container shipping through the Red Sea fell by nearly 30% year-on-year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced last Wednesday (January 31st).