Overview

• US forces destroyed the Ras Issa oil export port in Yemen, a key revenue source for the Iran-backed Houthi militia, as part of efforts to secure Red Sea shipping lanes.
• The US Central Command reported 13 fatalities in the strike, while Houthi sources claim up to 80 deaths, including civilians and medical workers, highlighting conflicting narratives.
• Satellite imagery analyzed by Planet Labs PBC confirms an oil spill in the Red Sea, raising significant environmental concerns following the port's destruction.
• Iran has denounced the attack as 'barbaric' and a violation of UN principles, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington amidst ongoing nuclear negotiations.
• The operation forms part of a broader US campaign launched in March to counter Houthi attacks on shipping and diminish Iran’s regional influence amid the Gaza conflict.