This morning (Tuesday), Israel struck the seaport in Hudaydah, Yemen, using Sa’ar 6-class missile boats operated by Flotilla 13 of the Israeli Navy.
Two Precision, Long-Range Missiles from Hundreds of Kilometers Away
According to new details revealed by military correspondent Doron Kadosh, two precision, long-range missiles equipped with heavy warheads were launched from a distance of several hundred kilometers. Until now, Israeli strikes in Yemen had been carried out by the Air Force – but this time, the operation was conducted by the Israeli Navy. The IDF described the attack as “a first-of-its-kind and precedent-setting” strike.
The operation, which had been in the planning stages for some time, was launched far from Israeli territory, after the vessels departed from the northern Red Sea. The Sa’ar 6-class warships, which also include female combat soldiers among their crews, are capable of engaging targets from great distances. According to the IDF, extensive measures were taken to conceal the vessels’ movements and activities.
Weapons Transit Infrastructure for the Houthis
The IDF emphasized that large quantities of weapons used by the Houthis are transferred through Hudaydah Port. In addition, surface-to-surface missiles that were launched toward the southern Red Sea and at Israel were also transported via this route.
The strike was intended to further damage the port, which has been used to support terrorist activity. It was carried out following advance warnings aimed at preventing harm to the civilian population in the area. The IDF continues its efforts to target port infrastructure in order to impose a blockade on the Houthis.
A statement from the IDF Spokesperson noted that the strike was conducted in response to acts of terrorism committed by the Houthi regime against the State of Israel, including the launching of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles toward Israeli territory. The targets struck were used for weapons transfers and were part of the Houthis’ exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military and terrorist purposes.
“A Precedent-Setting and Precise Strike”
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who previously commanded Flotilla 13, praised the operation:
“I commend the IDF, and especially the fighters of the Naval Arm, for this morning’s precedent-setting and precise strike on terrorist targets in Yemen,” he said.
“At the start of the war, we laid the operational and intelligence groundwork for the Navy’s operations against Houthi terrorism,” Gallant added.
