On the night of June 10, 2025, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on port facilities in the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeida on the west coast of Yemen. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation was aimed at preventing the port from being used for military purposes, including the transport of weapons allegedly supplied by Iran to the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group. The strikes were part of an ongoing standoff between Israel and the Houthis, which has escalated amid regional escalation.

Israeli aircraft have targeted warehouses and logistics facilities at the port of Hodeida, a key hub for shipping supplies to Yemen, Reuters reported. The IDF says it warned the local population through leaflets and media reports before the strikes to minimize the risk to civilians. However, Al Jazeera reports that Yemeni sources have reported damage to port infrastructure, including fuel storage facilities, which could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the country, where more than 70% of the population relies on humanitarian aid. No casualties have been reported, but local authorities controlled by the Houthis have condemned the attack, calling it “an aggression against civilian infrastructure.”

The port of Hodeida, located on the Red Sea coast, plays a critical role in Yemen's economy, providing up to 80% of its food, medicine, and fuel imports. Since 2015, when the civil war between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition began, the port has repeatedly been the target of attacks. According to the UN, the blockade of Hodeida in 2017-2018 led to a sharp rise in food prices and mass hunger. As the BBC notes, the Houthis use the port not only for civilian needs, but also to obtain weapons, including drones and ballistic missiles, which is confirmed by reports from UN experts. Israel, in turn, considers Hodeida to be part of an Iranian arms supply network aimed at supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

The operation followed a series of Houthi attacks on Israeli targets. According to The Times of Israel, in May 2025, the group launched several drones toward the port of Eilat and also attacked ships in the Red Sea linked to Israeli companies. In response, Israel stepped up air and naval operations against the Houthis, including strikes on their military installations in Yemen. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes on Hodeida were “highly precise” and aimed exclusively at military targets to prevent further escalation.