Saudi Strikes Hodeida, US Fires on Merchant Vessel Amid Escalating Tensions

A Saudi-led coalition struck the port city of Hodeida in Yemen on Saturday in response to Iranian-backed Houthi rebel attacks on two Saudi oil tankers. The Houthis said they would escalate their attacks after weeks of brewing tensions, which had previously been calm. The strikes targeted military targets and facilities belonging to the state telecommunications corporation, but did not target the port itself.

Earlier in the week, the Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade against Saudi ships in the Red Sea, which led to the attacks on the oil tankers. The coalition claimed that all Yemeni ports were open for maritime navigation and that the strikes only targeted military targets.

In separate developments, the US fired on another merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iranian ports, disabling it after it ignored multiple warnings. This is the second commercial ship to be disabled since the reimposition of the naval blockade.