The airstrike, which targeted oil facilities and Houthi military infrastructure, marked Israel's second known military action in Yemen. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the operation aimed to disrupt the transfer of Iranian weapons through the port, which the Houthis reportedly use to support their military activities. Israeli authorities confirmed that the Houthis had launched at least two ballistic missile attacks on Tel Aviv in recent weeks, escalating tensions between the two sides.
Local reports from Yemen indicated that the attack killed four people and wounded 29 others. The Houthis, however, claimed they had evacuated oil from the tankers in the port before the strike, minimizing the damage to critical infrastructure. A Houthi spokesperson vowed retaliation, reiterating their support for Gaza and their intention to respond to further Israeli actions.
This strike comes as Israel continues its military operations on multiple fronts, including in Gaza and Lebanon, where Hezbollah targets in Beirut and the Beqaa Valley were also struck over the weekend. The IDF confirmed that its forces targeted Houthi military installations, including power plants, in retaliation for recent missile launches.
The United States, notified of the Hodeidah strike-through U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), responded by bolstering its military presence in the region. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered increased defensive air support capabilities and readiness for potential contingencies. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group will continue operations in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Secretary Austin emphasized that the U.S. is committed to preventing any expansion of the conflict by Iran or its proxies and is prepared to take action if American interests or personnel in the region are targeted.
The Houthi missile strikes and the Israeli response signal a further widening of the conflict, as regional tensions continue to rise amid ongoing warfare across Gaza, Lebanon, and now Yemen.