Israel launches strikes at Syrian port, US forces target Houthi weapons storage sites in Yemen,

An Israeli strike targeting Syria’s Mediterranean port city of Latakia early on Thursday resulted in fires breaking out there, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

Firefighters were working on extinguishing the fires, SANA added.

Two people were injured and private properties were damaged, state media reported citing a military statement.

Syrian state television reported the country’s air defences had confronted Israeli targets over Latakia.

Meanwhile the United States conducted precision strikes late Wednesday against five underground weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

“U.S. forces targeted several of the Houthis’ underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have used to target civilian and military vessels throughout the region,” Austin said.

The attack comes after the U.S. military earlier this month carried out 15 strikes against targets linked to Iran-aligned Houthi fighters in Yemen, where residents reported blasts at military outposts and an airport.

Houthi fighters in Yemen have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November and say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s year-long war in Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on social media website X that its battle damage assessments were underway and do not indicate civilian casualties.