Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has threatened a sharp escalation after Saudi-led coalition warplanes struck targets in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, vowing that the next phase would follow an "escalation for escalation" approach.
In a statement issued shortly after the strikes, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of resorting to military action instead of responding to what the group described as a legitimate demand to lift the blockade on areas under its control. The group warned that Riyadh had made "a grave blunder" that would "cost it dearly," without elaborating on the nature of its planned response.
The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes late Friday against Houthi-controlled sites in Hodeidah, with local residents reporting multiple explosions across the Red Sea city. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that the strikes hit several locations, including telecommunications facilities and Kamaran Island, where a woman was reportedly injured.
The coalition said the strikes were carried out in response to recent Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. It stated that the operation targeted military sites linked to the group's maritime capabilities while avoiding civilian infrastructure. The coalition also said the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Salif remained open to commercial shipping and denied targeting port facilities.
The airstrikes came hours after Saudi media, citing a transport authority source, reported that the Saudi oil tanker NCC MASA had sustained minor hull damage in an attack in the Red Sea but continued its voyage. The Houthi group had announced a maritime ban on Saudi shipping on Monday and said Thursday it had targeted two Saudi oil tankers for violating the ban. The Saudi Press Agency later confirmed that a Saudi company-owned tanker had been hit and caught fire.
The latest exchange marks a significant uptick in hostilities between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting the group since 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government. Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting the coalition intervention.
The Houthi threat of retaliation raises the prospect of further attacks on Red Sea shipping, a critical artery for global trade and energy supplies. The group's maritime campaign has already disrupted commercial traffic in the region, and any escalation could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and international shipping routes.
