Saudi coalition strikes Yemen port after Houthi ships attack, blockade threat

The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on the Houthi-held Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Saturday, escalating tensions after the Iran-backed group attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

Coalition forces said they targeted military sites ‘linked to threats against commercial shipping,’ according to a brief statement. Houthi-aligned Al Masirah TV reported that telecommunications facilities were hit and a woman was injured on Kamaran Island off Yemen’s coast.

The strikes come after the Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia last week, decrying what they called an unjust ‘siege’ of their country. The group’s political wing condemned the attacks and vowed to meet ‘escalation with escalation,’ per Anadolu.

The conflict in Yemen, now in its second decade, continues to destabilize the region. Red Sea shipping lanes, vital for global oil and trade, face growing risk as Houthi forces target vessels.

Article and image source: israelherald.com