Overview

• Israeli missile ships targeted two piers at Hodeidah, marking the first time its navy has struck the Iran-backed Houthi rebels at sea.
• Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that continued Houthi drone and missile assaults would lead to a naval blockade followed by air restrictions.
• U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that recent U.S. Navy transits through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait occurred without Houthi interference.
• Hodeidah serves as Yemen’s primary entry point for food and humanitarian aid, raising concerns over potential disruptions after the naval strike.
• The operation comes after months of Houthi attacks on Israeli territory and commercial shipping in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.