Tensions across the Middle East have entered a more dangerous phase after Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes targeting military sites in Yemen’s western port city of Hodeidah, days after the Iran-backed Houthi movement announced what it described as a naval blockade against Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.

The Saudi-led military coalition confirmed the strikes, saying they targeted military positions that posed a threat to commercial shipping passing through the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

The confirmation came hours after Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that airstrikes had struck Hodeidah province, raising concerns over escalating military operations in the area.

However, the coalition denied targeting Hodeidah Port itself, insisting that all ports in the province remain open to commercial vessels.

“We did not target the Port of Hodeidah. All ports in the governorate remain open to shipping,” the coalition said in a statement carried by Saudi-owned Al Arabiya.

According to the coalition, the strikes were directed exclusively at military facilities allegedly linked to threats against international shipping in the Red Sea.

There has been no independent confirmation of casualties, and Yemeni authorities have not released official figures on deaths or injuries resulting from the strikes.

The latest escalation followed the Houthis’ announcement that they had imposed a “naval blockade” on Saudi Arabia, warning that vessels linked to the kingdom would become legitimate targets.

In response, the Saudi-led coalition vowed to respond decisively to any action threatening maritime security.

In recent days, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers transiting the Red Sea. Saudi authorities confirmed that one of the vessels caught fire during the incident, although all crew members were safely evacuated.

Threat to Global Shipping

Hodeidah lies near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of global trade and oil shipments passes.

Security analysts warn that any prolonged escalation could disrupt international shipping, increase global energy prices, and further strain already fragile supply chains.

The latest exchange of attacks also underscores the apparent collapse of the informal truce that had largely reduced direct hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since 2022, as regional tensions continue to intensify amid the broader confrontation involving Iran and its allied groups across the Middle East.

This version removes all paragraphs referring to Israel’s airstrikes on Hodeidah, the Tel Aviv drone attack, and the Al Jazeera report, leaving only the Saudi–Houthi developments.