Israel attacks Yemen’s Houthi-held Hodeida port in first direct strike by navy
Israel threatens Iran-aligned Houthis with a naval and air blockade if attacks continue
Israel’s navy attacked docks in Yemen’s rebel-held port city of Hodeida on Tuesday, launching its first seaborne assault against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels while warning that more could come.
The attack on Hodeida likely damaged facilities that are key to aid shipments to the hungry, war-wracked nation, but also have allegedly been used for weapons smuggling as vessels reportedly bypass United Nations inspectors.
Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel over its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned his country’s “long arm in the air and at sea will reach everywhere”.
“We warned the Houthi terror organisation that if they continue to fire at Israel, they will face a powerful response and enter a naval and air blockade,” he said.
Israeli attack again targets the Hodeida port
The Israeli attack struck Hodeida, some 150km (90 miles) southwest of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on the Red Sea on Tuesday morning. The Houthis offered no immediate damage assessment, and there were no videos immediately released by their al-Masirah satellite news channel.