Houthis vow retaliation after Saudi strikes hit Hodeidah

The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against Houthi military positions in Yemen's Hodeidah governorate on Friday, escalating a confrontation that began earlier in the week when Houthi forces attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The strikes mark a widening of the regional conflict that has engulfed the Middle East since early 2026.

The Strikes

A Saudi-led coalition spokesperson said the operation targeted military infrastructure linked to threats against Red Sea shipping lanes, according to Reuters. A Yemeni security source told AFP that a naval base in the port city of Hodeidah and a military camp on Kamaran Island were among the locations hit. The coalition denied striking Hodeidah's port itself, while Houthi-run media outlet Saba reported that the attacks also struck civilian telecommunications facilities.caliber+3

Houthi media reported two people were wounded in the strikes. The Houthis' Ansarollah media channel posted on Telegram that "the Saudi enemy's targeting of civilian facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran island constitutes a dangerous escalation," adding: "We affirm that these recent crimes will not go unanswered". By Saturday, the Houthis claimed a retaliatory missile strike on Saudi Arabia's Jizan region.timesofisrael+1

Tanker Attacks That Triggered the Response

The escalation began on Tuesday when Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, as they transited the Red Sea. Saree said the attacks employed ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, accusing the vessels of violating a Houthi-declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile, causing a fire onboard that crew members were fighting. Saudi authorities confirmed the Encelia was hit but said all crew were safe.aljazeera+1

A Widening Conflict

The confrontation represents a dramatic escalation in the Yemen conflict. According to Reuters, the Houthis broke a four-year informal truce with Saudi Arabia in mid-July when they fired missiles at the kingdom after accusing Riyadh of bombing Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The truce had held since March 2022. The flare-up opens a new front in the broader regional war that has followed US-Israeli strikes on Tehran earlier this year, compounding instability alongside Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.reuters+1