Israel launches air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi-controlled port

Israel launched air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida on July 21st, marking the second such strike of the month, increasing concerns of a potential broader conflict, according to Al-Monitor via AFP. 

Israeli attacks have repeatedly targeted Houthi-held parts of Yemen since the Iran-aligned rebels began firing missiles and drones at Israel, claiming their actions are in support of Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

Announcing the most recent operation, Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had struck “targets of the Houthi terror regime at the port of Hodeida” with the aim of preventing any reconstruction of previously damaged infrastructure.

These renewed air raids are part of Israel’s ongoing, year-long aerial campaign against the Houthis, although Katz’s latest warning has heightened anxiety over a potentially wider war in the already fragile Arabian Peninsula nation.

“Yemen’s fate will be the same as Tehran’s,” Katz stated.

This was in reference to Israel’s surprise offensive on Iran on June 13th, which targeted critical military and nuclear installations.

Amid that 12-day confrontation, the United States also launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure on June 22nd, hitting facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.

A Gulf official said to AFP that there are “serious concerns in Riyadh… that the Israeli strikes on the Houthis could turn into a large, sustained campaign to oust the movement’s leaders”.

Despite enduring over a decade of conflict against a heavily armed, Saudi-led coalition, large-scale fighting has eased in recent years.

Any Israeli escalation, the official warned, could “plunge the region into utter chaos”, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on briefing the media.

Al-Masirah TV, which is operated by the Houthis, reported “a series of Israeli air strikes on the Hodeida port”.

A Houthi security source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, said that “the bombing destroyed the port’s dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes.”

During July 7th, Israel carried out air strikes on Hodeida and two coastal areas nearby. Among the targets was the Galaxy Leader cargo vessel, which had been seized in November 2023. 

Also on July 7th, “two missiles were launched from Yemen,” the Israeli army said, adding that interception attempts were made and “the results of the interception are under review.”

Israeli officials claimed the ship had been equipped with radar to monitor Red Sea maritime traffic.

A port worker in Hodeida said the latest attacks struck “heavy equipment brought in for construction and repair work after Israeli airstrikes on July 7th… and areas around the port and fishing boats”.

According to a statement from the Israeli military, the strikes hit “engineering vehicles… fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities” against Israel, along with “additional terror infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime”.

The statement also claimed the port had been a conduit for arms shipments from Iran, which were then used by the Houthis to attack Israel.

It further said that Israeli intelligence had uncovered attempts by the Iran-aligned group to “re-establish terrorist infrastructure at the port”.

The Houthis have recently resumed lethal attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, striking vessels they allege are linked to Israel.

Al-Monitor via AFP, Maghrebi.org