U.S. and British forces conducted a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah International Airport and Kamaran Island near the port of Salif off the Red Sea. The strikes, reported by Al-Masirah TV, the main news outlet of Yemen’s Houthi movement, involved six attacks on the airport and four on Kamaran Island, marking the first such strikes on the island since February.
The Yemeni government, recognized internationally, suspects that Houthi fighters have utilized Kamaran Island and the port of Salif to launch attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and to store missiles and drones in the island’s salt mines. These areas are critical for maritime traffic, including the 10-kilometer stretch from Salif to Kamaran, which is a key passage for international shipping.
Recent weeks have seen a spike in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Tutor and the Palau-flagged Verbena were both targeted. The Tutor was hit by a remote-controlled boat and missiles, leading to severe flooding and engine room damage. The U.S. Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group rescued the Tutor’s crew, although one sailor remains missing. Meanwhile, the Verbena issued a distress call after suffering fires caused by missile strikes, and its crew was rescued by the Anna-Meta wheat carrier.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital and most populous regions, have intensified their maritime campaign in the Red Sea, causing significant disruptions to international shipping. This escalation follows their first successful maritime drone strike, which damaged two cargo ships last week. These attacks have forced shipping companies to reroute vessels, leading to increased costs and delays, impacting global trade.
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