Saudi-led forces attacking have begun a brutal onslaught on the Yemeni port of Hodeida - a major lifeline to over 20 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The Red Sea port is the latest battle in the Saudi-led coalition, which is supporting the Yemen government against Houthi rebels backed by Iran.

Reports from Yemen say airstrikes and artillery have started in Hodeidah and leaflets have been dropped telling residents to stay at home and away from military infrastructure.

Before the attack, Save The Children had warned that any assault would "unleash shocking brutality on 170,000 children that call the city home and sever a vital supply line for millions more across Yemen".

Labour's Emily Thornbury had earlier called on the Government to condemn the attack by UK allies, saying it was being carried out with "callous disregard for the humanitarian consequences".

Mrs Thornbury said: "For three years, the UK Government has made constant excuses for the Saudi-led coalition, explaining that the bombing of weddings, funerals and food markets have all just been unfortunate mistakes.

"But the assault on Hodeidah cannot be dismissed as a mistake; it is a calculated act of brutality against Yemen's civilian population, and if the UK Government will not both condemn it and act through the United Nations to stop it, it will not just stand accused of cowardice but complicity."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "We are in regular contact with the coalition about the need to ensure that any military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows through the port."

A statement from Robert Mardini, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on the situation in Hodeida, Yemen said the the most recent push for Hodeida is likely to exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen.

The population has already been weakened to extreme levels.

Lifelines to the outside world must be maintained, including the Hodeida port and the Sana'a airport. Real people, real families, will suffer if no food is getting in, and we are concerned that ongoing military operations continue to hamper the arrival of essential goods.

Coordinating Islamic Relief’s emergency relief efforts on the ground in Hodeida, Salem Jaffer Baobaid is extremely concerned by the devastating long-term effects these latest attacks will have on aid operations for all NGOs working in the country.

He said,“I could hear an extraordinary number of jets flying overhead. People want to leave the city, but can’t. The conflict has affected the whole country and people will not move around. They are poor people, who don’t have houses elsewhere.

"They are vulnerable. They are inside their houses, waiting for their destiny.”

Imran Madden, director of Islamic Relief UK said,“Recent reports of escalating military activity around the port of Hodeida are deeply disturbing.

"The port provides a major lifeline to millions of Yemenis in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

"Any escalation in violence will put the lives of 250,000 people at immediate risk and will lead to devastating humanitarian consequences for millions more.

"We have to remember that this is already the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis. If it gets worse, the consequences will be devastating."