Washington Authorized Israeli Strike Following Houthi-Russian Agreement Over Hodeida Port

  In a significant development, sources have revealed that the United States authorized Israel to execute a strike on Hodeida Port. This decision came as a direct response to a Houthi drone attack that struck central Tel Aviv near the U.S. Embassy, resulting in the death of at least one Israeli citizen.

These sources informed Sheba Intelligence that Washington approved a conditional strike targeting fuel storage facilities at Hodeida Port. This decision followed reports of a visit by a Houthi delegation, led by Mohammed Abdul Salam, to Moscow, during which an agreement was signed between Hodeida Port and a Russian port regarding the transfer of goods.

The sources indicated that the Americans believe the Russians are involved in supplying the Houthis with missiles and advanced weapons, enabling precise attacks on ships in the Red Sea. They expressed concerns that Russia is using Houthi attacks to increase its military presence in the Red Sea and regain influence in the Bab al-Mandab strait.

The sources described the Israeli strike as a warning, targeting fuel tanks rather than the port itself. They noted that future strikes, should the Houthi threat persist, would focus on specific military and economic targets.

A local official in Hodeida told Sheba Intelligence that the Israeli strike dealt a significant economic blow to the Houthis, targeting fuel tanks containing oil, gas, and liquid fuel used for launching missiles. The Houthis have resumed importing domestic gas from Ma’rib after years of relying solely on imported oil and gas.

It is worth noting that the Israeli attack on Hodeida Port last Saturday resulted in the complete destruction of 28 fuel tanks, including those containing diesel, petrol, and jet fuel. The strike also destroyed firefighting tanks, pumps, transport lines from the tanker dock to the tanks, the laboratory building, and the maritime section, among other significant material losses.