TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday strongly condemned the U.S. lethal airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa.

He made the remarks in a statement released by the ministry in response to the overnight U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni port on Thursday, which killed at least 80 people.

Baghaei said the attacks were "a clear instance of the crime of aggression and in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles and regulations of the United Nations Charter and international law."

He stressed that the U.S. "aggressions" against Yemen aligned with its "all-out support for Israel's occupation and genocide" in the occupied Palestinian territories, and would escalate insecurity in the region and threaten international peace and security.

The strikes started late Thursday night. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the victims included workers and employees of the port, who came under violent U.S. airstrikes while on duty.

The U.S. Central Command has confirmed 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.

In mid-March, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason. Enditem

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