Aden (South24 Center)

The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that its naval forces had attacked targets belonging to the Houthi militia in Yemen's Hodeidah port, marking Israel's first declared direct naval strike against the Iran-aligned group.

The operation represents a strategic shift in the ongoing confrontation between the two sides, moving the conflict directly into the maritime arena after Israel had previously relied on intensive airstrikes as its primary response method.

The Israeli military stated in an official release that its naval missile ships struck Houthi targets in Hodeidah port, adding that the strike aimed to increase damage to the port that continues to be used for Houthi “terrorist activities”.

The naval assault followed a stern warning issued by the Israeli military on Monday evening calling for the evacuation of Houthi-controlled ports in Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa - the third such warning within less than two months.

The Israeli military said that the Navy’s advanced Sa’ar 6-class corvettes were involved in today’s mission, during which two long-range guided missiles were fired at Hodeidah port from hundreds of kilometers away.

Hodeidah is located around 1,800 km from Israel. It also marked the eleventh Israeli strike on the Houthis since the start of the conflict, with the previous 10 having been carried out by the Israeli Air Force, The Times of Israel reported.

The Houthis, who control Yemen's capital Sanaa and most populated northern regions, have launched repeated drone and missile attacks against Israel since November 2023, claiming these operations are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Houthis halted their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after a controversial May 6 agreement with the United States, following which the Trump administration suspended its 40-day aerial bombardment of targets linked to the Yemeni group.

Military analysts suggest Israel's shift to naval power rather than fighter jets may indicate a desire to adopt more sustainable operational approaches with lower logistical costs, as airstrikes require covering long distances over hostile territories.

Today’s development coincides with reports of other conflict-related tensions. 

Lebanese media outlets reported on Monday the arrest of a Yemeni national in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel.

The news website ’Lebanon 24‘ identified the detainee as a Houthi leader without providing additional details. The suspect was reportedly responsible for coordinating between Hezbollah and the Houthi militia in Yemen. Neither Lebanese authorities nor the Houthi group have issued official confirmation regarding this report.

In a separate development, Yemeni media sources reported that the Houthis seized assets belonging to the international organization ‘Save the Children’ in militia-controlled areas after the NGO suspended its operations there in May.

The total value of confiscated assets was estimated at approximately $4 million, including vehicles, power generators, computers, medicines, and office supplies, according to the sources.

The seizure of the aid organization’s assets further compounds the challenges facing humanitarian operations in Houthi-controlled Yemen, where international groups already operate under severe restrictions.