Hodaiedah – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that the recent airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port were part of a broader strategy to maintain a naval and aerial blockade on the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which Tel Aviv accuses of escalating attacks against Israeli territory and maritime interests.

Speaking hours after the Israeli Air Force launched 12 targeted airstrikes on three key berths at the Red Sea port, Katz stated that the operation was designed to “ensure the continued siege of the Houthi terrorist organization,” and to prevent the group from receiving weapons and logistical support via maritime routes.

“The Houthi organization will continue to suffer painful blows for every attempt to harm the State of Israel,” Katz said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He emphasized that the port had been used to smuggle Iranian-supplied arms, including drones and ballistic missiles, which have been deployed in recent attacks on Israeli infrastructure.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in Israel’s regional campaign, which has expanded beyond Gaza to include retaliatory operations in Lebanon, Syria, and now Yemen. Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for multiple drone and missile attacks targeting Israeli cities and vessels in the Red Sea since late 2023.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed concern over the targeting of Hodeidah, a vital lifeline for millions of Yemenis dependent on food and medical aid. The Israeli military has defended the operation as “surgical and intelligence-driven,” aimed solely at degrading hostile capabilities.

The Houthis have vowed to respond, accusing Israel of “aggression against the Yemeni people” and warning of further escalation.