US strikes Yemen fuel port as Hamas rejects 'partial' truce

At least 80 people were killed in US strikes on a major fuel port in Yemen, media outlets affiliated with Houthi rebels reported on Friday.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out the strikes on Ras Isa port to "degrade the economic source" of power of the Iran-backed Houthi militants.

"Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists," CENTCOM said on social media following the bombing on Thursday evening.

"This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully," it added.

Scores killed as US continues Yemen bombing campaign 

The death toll reported by local media was revised upwards several times since the strike, reaching 80 dead and at least 150 injured on Friday evening. At least five paramedics lost their lives, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry, and searches for more people were ongoing. 

The deaths from the strike on the port in western Yemen marked one of the highest tolls so far since the US began an air campaign against the militant group last year.

The US says the campaign will continue until the Houthis stop attacking cargo ships near the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Hamas rejects 'partial' ceasefire proposal

Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected terms set out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a new truce.

Hamas' Gaza chief and head of the negotiating team, Khalil Al-Hayya, said the group would not agree to a "partial" ceasefire.

"Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if the price is sacrificing all his prisoners (hostages)," Hayya said in a televised address. "We will not be part of passing this policy."

Hayya said Hamas was ready to immediately engage in "comprehensive package negotiations" to release all remaining hostages in its custody in return for an end to the Gaza war, the release of Palestinians jailed by Israel, and the reconstruction of Gaza. 

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar, Zac Crellin, Darko Janjevic