Saudi Arabia Strikes Houthi-Held Hodeidah As Yemen Conflict Escalates

Saudi Arabia launched strikes on the Houthi controlled city of Hodeidah on Friday, marking a sharp escalation in the Yemeni conflict as the wider Middle East war continues to spread. The Houthi-run Foreign Ministry warned the attack would carry a heavy cost for Riyadh and vowed retaliation.

Strikes Hit Port City And Kamaran Island

Houthi-affiliated media reported that the strikes targeted telecommunications facilities in Hodeidah and additional sites on Kamaran Island, where one woman was reported injured. Witnesses described explosions near Hodeidah’s port, though the Saudi-led coalition denied targeting port infrastructure directly. The port serves as a critical entry point for commercial and humanitarian goods into Houthi-controlled northern Yemen.

Saudi Coalition Blames Houthi Attacks On Red Sea Shipping

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki said the strikes came in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, including two Saudi ships targeted earlier in the week. He said the coalition’s response was decisive and that military action had concluded for now, while warning further hostile acts would prompt an immediate reply.

Wider Regional Tensions Continue To Build

The escalation comes as Iran maintains a separate blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and as President Trump said he had not yet decided whether to launch major strikes on Iran, noting talks with Tehran were progressing. US forces separately disabled a merchant vessel attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports.