Israel Strikes Yemen’s Hodeidah Port After Warning Civilians To Evacuate

Israel has attacked Yemen’s Hodeidah port after giving evacuation warnings for three key ports under Houthi control-Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif, according to Yemen’s Houthi-run interior ministry.

The warning came just hours before the strikes, and was shared on social media by the Israeli Army’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee. The Houthi interior ministry reported that Israel carried out airstrikes after the warnings.

However, the head of Yemen’s Houthi-run state news agency Saba, Nasruddin Amer, denied that Israeli attacks had taken place on any Yemeni port. As of now, Israel has not officially commented on the attack.

This incident happened just days after a missile launched from Yemen towards Israel was intercepted. That missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport, raising security alarms in Israel.

Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz later said, according to regional reports, that the Yemeni resistance was continuing to launch Iranian missiles at Israel, and warned that Israel would respond with force in Yemen and “wherever necessary.”

The attack also came shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump visited the Middle East. Trump began a new military campaign against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on March 15. He later agreed to a ceasefire with the Houthis that was mediated by Oman.

However, the Houthis confirmed that this ceasefire deal did not include Israel.

On May 4, the Yemeni resistance declared a complete air blockade on Israel and said Israeli airports, especially Ben Gurion, would be among their targets. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, warned international airlines to avoid flying to Israel for the safety of their passengers.

In response, Israel vowed to act alone. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would “defend itself by itself” against any threat, whether or not others were involved. He added that this principle had applied in the past and would continue in the future.

This is the second time within a week that Israel has warned civilians to evacuate parts of Yemen. Last Tuesday, the Israeli military warned people to leave Sanaa’s international airport before carrying out airstrikes that disabled the airport.

On Thursday, Israel warned that the Houthis would “suffer heavy blows” if they continued to target Israel. One day earlier, the U.S. had announced it would pause its strikes on Houthi-linked targets in Yemen.

The next day, Houthi forces fired a missile toward central Israel, but the Israeli military said it was intercepted by the Arrow defense system.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have regularly launched missiles and drones at Israel and attacked ships in the Red Sea and nearby areas. The group has said its operations are part of its support for Gaza and would stop only if Israel ends its military actions and blockade there.

Israel has conducted several airstrikes in Yemen in recent months. One of the most recent major strikes was on Tuesday, when the Israeli military attacked Sanaa’s international airport and made it inoperable, according to reports.

References: CNN, Reuters

Source: Maritime Shipping News