Did Israeli Strikes Target Yemen's Red Sea Ports in Hodeidah?

Sanaa, June 10 (NationPress) Israel launched attacks on Yemen's Red Sea ports located in Hodeidah province early Tuesday morning, focusing on various facilities and docks, as reported by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV and local residents.

No injuries were reported thus far, as the Houthi rebel group, which governs a significant portion of northern Yemen, tends to keep its casualty figures private.

The assault occurred shortly after the Israeli army issued alerts, advising residents to evacuate from three ports in Hodeidah province—namely the port city of Hodeidah, Ras Isa fuel port, and As-Salif port—prior to the expected military strikes, according to Israeli media sources.

The Israeli military stated that the attack aimed to halt the military utilization of the port, claiming it was a response to surface-to-surface missiles launched by Houthi forces targeting Israel.

According to the Israeli army, the strike was executed by navy missile ships, marking the first instance of naval vessels participating in actions against Houthi forces.

This incident adds to a growing number of Israeli military operations against Houthi-controlled locations, initiated after the Houthis began launching missiles and drones at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and other Israeli assets beginning in November 2023, as part of their support for Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The group has indicated a willingness to cease its assaults if Israel halts its military operations and blockade of Gaza, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Recent Israeli airstrikes have devastated much of Hodeidah's port infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of numerous port workers, as per Houthi television reports.

On June 5, Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for a hypersonic ballistic missile fired toward Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, which the Israeli military confirmed was intercepted.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated, "The operation was in retaliation for the (Israeli) crimes of starvation and thirst in Gaza and the aggressive actions against the southern suburbs of Beirut," during an announcement broadcast on al-Masirah TV.

He added, "We will stand with Gaza until the aggression and blockade against Gaza cease."

The Israeli military confirmed that its aerial defense systems intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

Hodeidah has served as a vital entry point for food and humanitarian supplies for millions of Yemenis since the outbreak of war, following the Houthi takeover of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, in 2014.

The Houthis have undertaken consistent missile and drone strikes against both commercial and military vessels in the vicinity, which they characterize as a means to end Israel’s operations in Gaza.

From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, causing the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors. This ongoing threat has significantly hampered trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion worth of goods transit annually.