Houthis Report Significant Losses from Israeli Airstrikes on Hodeidah Ports
The Houthi group in Yemen has disclosed that Israeli airstrikes on the ports of Hodeidah have resulted in substantial financial losses estimated at $313 million. This information was presented during a press conference led by Mohammed Qahim, the Minister of Transport in the Houthi government, alongside Houthi leaders and representatives from the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA). The airstrikes, which occurred between July 20 and December 19, have severely impacted the infrastructure and equipment at the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa, including damage to bridge cranes and the power station.
The Houthi statement condemned the destruction of these ports as a violation of international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilian infrastructure. The ongoing consequences of these attacks have left the Red Sea Ports Corporation grappling with significant operational challenges.
US Airstrikes Target Houthi Facilities Amid Rising Tensions
In a related development, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported conducting precision airstrikes targeting Houthi missile storage and command facilities in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. These strikes, aimed at disrupting Houthi operations that threaten US and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, involved the use of US Air Force and Navy assets, including F/A-18 aircraft. The CENTCOM statement highlighted the destruction of several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile during these operations.
The Houthis, in response, reported that US and British forces had launched air attacks on Sanaa, marking an escalation in the conflict. This military exchange follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah, which the Houthis claim have been retaliatory actions linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since November 2023, the Houthis have intensified their missile and drone strikes against Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, declaring all American and British ships as military targets in retaliation for their involvement in Yemen. The group has also threatened to expand its attacks to include ships in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, contingent on the continuation of Israeli military actions in Gaza.
