In an agreement announced at a news conference in Riyadh, the coastguard of Yemen’s internationally recognized government will be trained and equipped to counter threats including piracy, human-trafficking, and smuggling. This initiative, funded by several million dollars from over 35 countries—including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, as well as Gulf nations and the European Union—aims to bolster Yemen’s maritime security. Saudi Arabia alone pledged $4 million.
Japan’s ambassador to Yemen, Yoichi Nakashima, stressed the importance of the Yemeni government controlling its coastline, though he cautioned that this initiative would not necessarily curb Houthi attacks.
Israel Strikes Houthi-Held Port The Iran-backed Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping since the Gaza war began, in what they claim is an act of solidarity with Palestinians.
In response, Israel struck Hodeida port on Tuesday, stating it targeted infrastructure used by the rebels. Houthi-run media reported a dozen strikes on the area. The Israeli military confirmed it struck a “military infrastructure site belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime at the Hodeida port,” accusing the group of using the port for the transfer of Iranian-supplied weapons to execute attacks against Israel and its allies.
This strike follows a series of recent Israeli attacks on the Houthis, including one that killed their prime minister and nearly half of his cabinet last month, and another last week that killed dozens, primarily targeting the rebels’ military media operations.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned the Houthis on X (formerly Twitter) that they would “continue to suffer blows and pay painful prices for any attempt to attack the State of Israel.” Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, Israel has conducted rounds of retaliatory strikes in Yemen, mainly targeting infrastructure such as ports, power stations, and the international airport in Sanaa.
