Saudi strikes hit Hodeidah, Houthi-run media says
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said Saudi strikes hit Hodeidah amid Red Sea tensions and rebel claims of a maritime blockade.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Saudi strikes Hodeidah sites in Yemen late Friday, according to media aligned with the Houthi movement, raising concern that the region’s conflicts could widen further. The reported attack hit a city held by the Houthis, who control large areas of Yemen.
Al Masirah TV, a channel run by the rebels, said in a post that “Saudi aggression” had targeted Hodeidah province. Houthi security sources also reported that locations in the area had been struck, according to rebel media accounts.
Separate reports said a Saudi ship had been hit in the Red Sea. The available reports did not provide details on the vessel, the extent of any damage or whether there were casualties.
What happened in Hodeidah?
Hodeidah is a Houthi-held city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. According to Houthi-run media, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on sites in the province late Friday.
The report came during a period of heightened tension involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis had announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and had targeted several Saudi ships, according to the accounts cited by rebel-linked media.
The Red Sea has been a focal point in the latest reports because of the alleged hit on a Saudi ship and the Houthis’ claimed blockade. A maritime blockade is an attempt to restrict ships from reaching or leaving a country’s ports or waters, usually as a tool of war or pressure.
Why does the Red Sea report matter?
The reported strike on Hodeidah and the separate claim involving a Saudi ship point to a possible broadening of hostilities around Yemen and the Red Sea. Hodeidah’s location on the coast gives events there regional significance when maritime attacks are also being reported.
The escalation comes as the United States is engaged in hostilities with Iran, according to the regional context cited in the reports. Israel is also continuing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, adding to the pressure across the Middle East.
The Houthis, a rebel movement that controls large parts of Yemen, have long been a central actor in the country’s war. Their media channels often report military developments from areas under their control, including Hodeidah.
No further details were available in the initial rebel media reports about the number of sites hit in Hodeidah. The reports also did not state whether the alleged Red Sea strike on a Saudi ship was directly connected to the strikes reported in Hodeidah.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.