Iran's Khamenei says US strikes on Yemen 'a crime that must be stopped'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that recent deadly U.S. strikes on the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen was a "crime that must be stopped".

"This attack on the people of Yemen, on Yemeni civilians, is also a crime that must be stopped," said Khamenei according to a video published on his website.

Houthi media had reported multiple U.S. strikes on Wednesday in rebel-held areas around Yemen including the capital Sanaa.

They later launched another attack against American warships in the Red Sea, their fourth time firing on the carrier group in 72 hours.

The Houthis' military spokesperson said the operation entailed "a number of cruise missiles and drones, targeting the aircraft carrier 'USS Harry Truman' and a number of enemy warships", adding that the attack was "the fourth within 72 hours".