The Israeli airstrike on the Hodeidah port, controlled by the Houthi group, has caused an estimated $20 million in damages, a port official said on Sunday. The strike, which targeted fuel storage facilities, also destroyed two cranes, a small ship, and several buildings, according to Nasser al-Nasiri, deputy head of the Red Sea Ports Authority.

The official stated that the damage estimate does not include the losses incurred by the Ministry of Oil due to the destruction of fuel storage facilities. While the strike caused a temporary disruption in port operations, activities resumed quickly, al-Nasiri said.

The Hodeidah port is a critical entry point for fuel and humanitarian aid to Yemen, where over half the population relies on humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.

The Israeli airstrike, which occurred on Saturday, July 20th, targeted fuel tanks, a power station, and other infrastructure, causing fires that burned for days. The attack resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and injuries to 80 others, according to Houthi statistics.

The Israeli military confirmed the airstrikes, stating they were in response to Houthi attacks on Israeli targets over the past months. The strikes marked the first known direct Israeli military action against the Houthis since November 2023, when the group launched attacks against Israeli targets in retaliation for Israel's support of the Palestinian Hamas group in Gaza.

The Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, has been carrying out attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden since November 2023. These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and forced many international shipping companies to utilize the longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

In response to the Houthi attacks, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023 to deter the group and protect maritime navigation. The US has also conducted airstrikes against Houthi military targets since January 2024.

The Yemeni government, recognized by the international community, has stated that Western airstrikes are not effective in neutralizing the Houthi threat to navigation and that the best solution is to support Yemeni forces in retaking Hodeidah and other areas controlled by the group.

Despite the continued Houthi attacks, only three ships out of 162 have reported significant damage or injuries since November 2023.