Israeli Navy Targets Houthi Port City in Retaliatory Strikes

The Israeli military conducted naval strikes on the Houthi-controlled port city of Hudaydah, Yemen, in response to ongoing missile attacks by the Houthis targeting Israel. Despite the strikes, the Houthis claim their operations remain unaffected, and the port is a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid.

Israeli navy ships have carried out strikes on military targets in the port city of Hudaydah, held by the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. This military action stems from retaliatory measures after Houthi missiles targeted Israel, with the Israeli military seeking to prevent the port's use for military activities. Although there were no immediate reports of casualties, social media images displayed considerable smoke emanating from the port following two strikes reported by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Over recent months, the Houthis have consistently launched missiles into Israeli territories as part of their support for the Palestinians during ongoing tensions in Gaza. On a notable occasion, a Houthi missile was intercepted over Jerusalem, while last month another struck near Israel's main airport. Tuesday's strikes on Hudaydah were unique in that they were conducted by naval vessels, a departure from the usual airstrikes.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had previously issued evacuation alerts for civilians in Hudaydah and other ports under Houthi control, such as Ras Isa and Salif. IDF's Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, urged individuals at the ports to vacate the area for their safety. Meanwhile, Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthis' media office, suggested the attack would have minimal impact, proclaiming their people's morale remained high in their weekly protests supporting Gaza.

Hudaydah port is vital for food and humanitarian assistance for millions of Yemenis who rely on it, making it a recurring target in Israeli military operations over the past year. A prior Israeli strike led to one death and forced the port's operations to halt for about a month, as stated by the Houthi-controlled health ministry. The Iranian-backed Houthi group has maintained control over large parts of northwestern Yemen since 2014, following the ousting of the internationally-recognized government, thereby igniting a protracted civil conflict.

In light of rising tensions following a series of missile and drone strikes against commercial shipping by the Houthis, the U.S. began airstrikes against the group. Tensions escalated under former President Joe Biden, which intensified until a ceasefire was achieved in May after President Donald Trump took office.