SANAA/RIYADH (The COW News Digital) The Saudi-led coalition has carried out airstrikes targeting Houthi military positions in Yemen’s western governorate of Hodeidah, confirming that the targeted sites were directly linked to threats facing commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
In an official statement, the coalition clarified that the port of Hodeidah was not targeted during the operation. Authorities emphasized that all commercial ports across the region remain operational and open to international maritime navigation. Coalition officials stressed that the strikes were designed to safeguard key shipping lanes and warned that continued hostile actions by the Houthi movement would meet a firm and decisive response.
Earlier, the Houthi-aligned media network Al-Masirah reported that Saudi coalition aircraft launched raids on Hodeidah city and nearby Kamaran Island. Official Yemeni news sources under Houthi control also alleged that airstrikes hit infrastructure belonging to the local Telecommunications Corporation in Hodeidah.
The military operation follows heightened maritime tensions in the region. A day prior to the strikes, Ansar Allah (the Houthi movement) claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group asserted that the vessels were targeted for violating a naval blockade it had recently imposed.
Ansar Allah announced the maritime blockade six days ago, stating the measure was a direct response to the ongoing blockade against Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and the continued closure of Sanaa International Airport.
Regional defense analysts note that the exchange marks a significant escalation in maritime hostilities near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments and international trade. While the coalition maintains that its actions remain limited to neutralizing legitimate military threats, Houthi officials warned that they intend to retaliate if coalition operations persist
