Saudi-Led Coalition Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen's Hodeidah; Houthis Threaten Naval Blockade
The Saudi-led coalition carried out airstrikes on Friday targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen’s Red Sea governorate of Hodeidah, according to Houthi-run Al Masirah TV. Eyewitnesses reported multiple strikes hitting the port of Hodeidah, a vital entry point for humanitarian aid and commercial goods.
The escalation comes after the Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, announced on Monday that it would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, opening a potential new front against the United States in its wider conflict with Iran. The Saudi-led coalition responded by vowing to act “firmly” against any threats.
Al Masirah reported that the strikes damaged facilities belonging to the state telecommunications corporation in Hodeidah city. The broadcaster also said Saudi forces targeted Kamaran Island, off Yemen’s western coast. Reuters could not immediately verify these reports.
Since a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, Saudi Arabia has sought to avoid a return to full-scale war in Yemen. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people through direct violence, hunger, and disease. The latest strikes threaten to unravel the fragile ceasefire and deepen the humanitarian crisis in one of the world’s poorest nations.
