By Mohammed GhobariADEN, Yemen (Reuters) -Yemen's port city of Hodeidah and other western coastal areas were hit on Monday by at least 17 airstrikes attributed to a U.S.-British coalition defending ships in the Red Sea, according to Al Masirah, the main Houthi-run television news outlet. The strikes follow the first civilian fatalities and vessel loss since the Iran-aligned Houthis began attacking commercial shipping in November. They also coincide with the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting for Muslims. The Houthis killed three crew of the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated True Confidence on Wednesday in an attack off the port of Aden. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari in Aden, Adam Makary in Cairo; writing by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Sephen Coates)

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Persons: Mohammed Ghobari ADEN, Al Masirah, Houthis, Ras Issa, Mohammed Ghobari, Adam Makary, Lisa Baertlein, Kevin Liffey, Sephen Coates Organizations: British, U.S ., Hamas Locations: Yemen, Hodeidah, U.S, Red, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Ras, Barbados, Aden, Africa's, Suez, Cairo, Los Angeles