Barran Press
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed "deep concern" over reports of airstrikes in and around the port city of Hodeidah in Yemen on Friday. In a statement to the press, Guterres called on "all concerned parties to avoid attacks that could harm civilians and civilian infrastructure."
The statement seen by "Barran Press" highlighted the UN Secretary-General's "continued deep concern over the risk of further escalation in the region" and his ongoing call for "utmost restraint" from all parties.
Initial reports surrounding the Israeli airstrikes indicate "a number of casualties and over 80 injured in this attack, as well as significant damage to civilian infrastructure," according to the UN statement.
On Saturday, powerful explosions rocked Hodeidah following airstrikes that Houthi media claimed targeted oil storage facilities in the port, resulting in casualties. The Israeli military later confirmed its involvement, stating that its "warplanes carried out strikes on targets belonging to the Houthi regime in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen." The strikes were described as a "response to the Houthi attacks over the past months."
The airstrikes came after a drone attack in Tel Aviv on Friday, which killed one Israeli and injured 10 others. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it "unprecedented."
Since November 2023, the Houthis, designated as a terrorist group by several countries, have continued their missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs, prompting many international shipping companies to choose the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.
To deter the Houthis and protect maritime traffic, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have also been conducting strikes against Houthi military targets.
Since January 12th, the US and UK have carried out approximately 560 airstrikes against the Houthis, resulting in the deaths of 58 Houthi fighters and injuries to 86 others, according to the militia's own admission.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government argues that Western airstrikes are insufficient to neutralize the Houthi threat to shipping. They advocate for supporting their armed forces to reclaim Hodeidah, its ports, and other areas under Houthi control.
Despite the group's continued claims of naval attacks, only three out of 162 ships they claim to have targeted since November 2023 have suffered significant damage or casualties.