Saudi‑led coalition forces carried out airstrikes on Friday targeting Houthi military installations in the western port city of Hodeidah, citing a response to attacks on Saudi‑linked shipping in the Red Sea.
Coalition spokesman Maj.-Gen. Turki Al‑Malki announced on X that the operation had concluded and described the strikes as a “proportionate military response against legitimate targets belonging to the terrorist Houthi militia in the Hodeidah governorate.”
Earlier within the week, Iran‑backed Houthis had threatened to target Saudi vessels that did not comply with their maritime blockade. Saudi authorities confirmed that one of their ships had suffered minor hull damage after a Houthi‑claimed attack.
According to Yemeni security sources, ayntargeted locations included a naval base in Hodeidah, a telecommunications facility near the eastern gate of Hodeidah port and a military camp on Kamaran Island. Residents reported hearing explosions in proximity to the port.
The Houthi‑run Al‑Masirah television reported injuries to two civilians—a worker in Hodeidah city and a woman on Kamaran Island—following the strikes. The coalition clarified that the port itself was not targeted, and all Yemeni ports remained open for commercial shipping, carrying essential goods such as food, commodities, oil and construction materials.
Al‑Malki also noted that no airports were struck to preserve air traffic, though he accused the Houthis of obstructing flight operations at Sana’a International Airport.
This exchange of fire marks the first reported confrontation between coalition forces and the Houthis in several years, raising concerns about the fragile peace that has largely held since 2022 despite its formal expiration.
During the incident, Saudi state media reported that the Saudi‑owned vessel NCC MASA experienced minor hull damage while traveling in the Red Sea, but the ship resumed its voyage shortly thereafter.
The heightened conflict has amplified the importance of the Red Sea route, especially amid increased disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. In recent months, a majority of Saudi crude exports—92% in June and 78% so far in July—have departed from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, according to Kpler data.
The Houthi insurgency, which has fought Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2014, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties over the course of the conflict.
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