Saudi-Led Coalition Strikes Houthis, Who Warn of Escalation

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had carried out airstrikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen's Hodeidah province. According to Riyadh, the targets were being used to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Al Masirah TV, which is affiliated with the Houthis, reported that the strikes hit facilities belonging to the state-owned telecommunications company in the city of Hodeidah, as well as on the island of Kamaran off Yemen's western coast.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki subsequently stated that the port of Hodeidah was not a target of the attacks and that all Yemeni ports remained open to commercial vessels.

The coalition also warned that it would continue to protect its vessels and Saudi Arabia's interests and would respond uncompromisingly to any further Houthi attacks. The Houthis described the airstrikes as the beginning of a new phase of escalation and blamed Riyadh for any further developments.

Tensions have risen following recent Houthi attacks on a Saudi Arabian airport and on oil tankers. On Friday, the hull of the Saudi Arabian vessel NCC MASA sustained minor damage in an attack in the Red Sea, though the crew escaped unharmed. Reuters was unable to independently verify the information provided by the warring parties.

(Reuters, EST)