The U.S. military has carried out a targeted operation in Yemen, striking the Ras Isa fuel port, a key source of funding for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement released on April 17, 2025. According to the U.S. military, the attack was aimed at destroying the economic infrastructure that provides the Houthis with the means to wage war and destabilize the region. The strike was planned in such a way as to minimize harm to the civilian population of Yemen.

As noted by CENTCOM, the port of Ras Isa has served the Houthis for more than a decade not only as a source of fuel for military operations, but also as a conduit for illegal revenues that support their terrorist activities. The destruction of this facility marks a shift in U.S. strategy from intercepting Houthi missiles and drones to more decisive actions aimed at undermining their financial base. The statement emphasized that the operation is aimed at the long-term weakening of the group's position, which uses fuel as a tool for population control and a source of profit from illegal trade.

Ras Isa, located on Yemen’s western coast in Hodeida province, plays a vital role in the economy of Houthi-controlled areas. The port accounts for up to 80% of fuel imports to areas under the group’s control, and revenues from its operation directly fuel the Houthi military campaigns. The strike on the facility was part of a broader US campaign launched on March 15, 2025, following the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire and renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

According to Reuters, the operation was accompanied by large-scale fires in the port, which is confirmed by footage published by Arab media. The Houthis, in turn, announced four airstrikes on Ras Isa, calling them an attack on vital infrastructure serving more than 25 million Yemenis. The group accused the United States of harming the civilian population, although CENTCOM insists that the strike was pinpoint and aimed exclusively at the Houthis' military and economic resources.

The attack marked the first time the US has publicly acknowledged hitting a fuel port, which experts see as an escalation of the conflict. According to Yemen analyst Mohammed al-Bashi, quoted by USNI News, the US actions, including recent sanctions against the International Bank of Yemen (IBY), signal an intent to not only destroy the Houthis’ military assets but also cut off their financial flows. Expert Nadwa Dawsari noted in a social media commentary that fuel is the backbone of the Houthis’ war economy, providing transportation, smuggling, and a black market, making Ras Isa a strategically important target.

The context of the operation is the ongoing Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, which began in 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. According to CNN, the Houthis have carried out more than 2023 attacks since October 100, sinking two ships and forcing 70% of commercial shipping to be rerouted through the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing shipping companies’ costs. In response, the US and its allies have increased their military presence in the region, deploying the Harry S. Truman and Carl Vinson carrier groups, as well as B-2 bombers from a base on the island of Diego Garcia.

Since March 2025, the US operation against the Houthis has cost the Pentagon $200 million in ammunition alone, The New York Times reports, but the impact of the strikes remains limited. The Houthis, known for their resilience to external pressure, continue to strengthen their underground arsenals and retain the ability to attack ships and launch missiles toward Israel. This confirms the statement of Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi, who said on April 17 that US attacks have failed to stop their blockade of the Red Sea.