The assault began early Wednesday after days of the United Nations warning against the operation which also involves the UAE and United States as leading the campaign on the Houthi held port city of Al Hudaydah.

Reuters reports the following breaking updates:

"concentrated and intense" bombing near the port itself.

30 air strikes hit the city within half an hour.

Houthis say they hit a coalition barge

Port is main route to feed 8.4 million on verge of famine

"Some civilians are entrapped, others forced from their homes."

Arab warplanes and warships pounded Houthi fortifications to support ground operations by foreign and Yemeni troops massed south of the port of Hodeidah in operation "Golden Victory".

Ground battles raged near Hodeidah airport and al-Durayhmi, a rural area 10 km (6 miles) south of the city