17 killed in U.S. airstrikes on Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa: Houthis

SANAA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. airstrikes on Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa on Thursday have killed 17 people and injured dozens more, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported Friday.

It said the victims were workers and employees of the port.

Civil defense and rescue teams are working to extinguish fires at Ras Isa, and taking the injured to hospital.

Previously, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) said in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday, "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power of" the Houthis.

A Yemeni local government official told Xinhua that more than five strikes hit the port and partially destroyed it.

In mid-March, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to launch "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis, after the latter announced their plans to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, citing Israel's blockade of aid to Gaza. ■