Israel attacks Hodeidah port in retaliation for Houthi attacks

On Sunday, dozens of Israeli warplanes attacked Houthi-controlled ports and destroyed oil terminals and other dual-use infrastructure in a massive bombing campaign. The strikes are in retaliation for Houthi ballistic missile attacks on central Israel, including an attempted attack on Ben-Gurion International Airport on Saturday.

The Houthi-controlled Al Masirah news agency reported that at least four people were killed in the strike, including a port employee and three engineers. In addition to damage to fuel depots and port infrastructure, the attack also destroyed a power plant and plunged large parts of the city into darkness.

“Israeli aggression will only strengthen the resolve of the Yemeni people to continue their stance,” the Houthi leaders said in a statement.

That’s what Israel ????????? did an hour ago in Yemen ????????, at a distance of 2,000 kilometers from Israel.

Iran’s oil infrastructure is just 1,600 kilometers from Israel…
pic.twitter.com/yT4XXNnHd6

– Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) September 29, 2024

This was once a port used by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

But then the Houthis began firing rockets at Israel, leaving them without a port. pic.twitter.com/RqTUR0uto6

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) September 29, 2024

The Israeli military said the bombing was a response to Houthi aggression in the region. With Iranian help, the militant group has attacked dozens of merchant ships and fired several ballistic missiles into Israeli territory over the past year. The strikes have brought trade to the port of Eilat to a virtual standstill and have halved passage through the Suez Canal. A coalition of navies has tried to defend against Houthi anti-ship capabilities, with mixed results.

The Houthi group says its attacks are aimed at pressuring Israel to end its military operation in Gaza. Spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said on Sunday that the Israeli counterattack would not force the Houthis to abandon their support for Gaza and Lebanon (where Israel has recently accelerated its operations against Hezbollah).

Sunday’s attack was Israel’s second attack on the port of Hodeida this year. On July 20, Israeli warplanes made the 1,000 nautical mile flight to northwest Yemen and damaged the port fuel depot; Sunday’s attack appears to have destroyed most of what remained.