On the night of April 17 (local time), the U.S. military launched a large-scale airstrike on Ras Isa Port, located in Yemen’s western Hodeidah Province and under the control of the Houthi forces. According to reports from China Central Television (CCTV) correspondents on the ground, the attack resulted in at least 80 deaths and 171 injuries, leaving the port completely paralyzed.
Just two days later, between the night of April 19 and the early hours of April 20, the U.S. military again struck the Hodeidah Maritime Affairs Authority building, located inside the same port. Residents of Hodeidah reported over a dozen powerful explosions, suggesting another round of intense airstrikes.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes against the Houthis in mid-March, the attack on Ras Isa Port has been the largest in scale so far. However, the ongoing U.S. airstrikes have so far failed to stop the Houthis from launching attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and missile strikes on Israel.
📍 Ras Isa Port: Strategic Importance Now in Ruins
According to the Red Sea Ports Corporation, Ras Isa Port is now completely non-operational due to the airstrikes. CCTV footage shows widespread devastation:
Fuel storage tanks, pipelines, and mechanical equipment were destroyed
Numerous vehicles and critical infrastructure were reduced to rubble
The port now lies in a state of total shutdown
Ras Isa Port is one of northern Yemen’s most vital lifelines, handling about 90% of fuel imports and 60% of food supplies for the region. Located approximately 50 kilometers from Hodeidah city, the port sits within a core area of Houthi control, and plays a crucial role in both economic and military logistics.
Strategically, it lies on the western side of the Red Sea–Suez Canal corridor, which carries 12% of global trade annually. This makes Ras Isa not only a key node in global maritime logistics, but also a vital hub linking Yemen’s inland energy-producing regions to international trade networks.
💣 Airstrikes Escalate U.S. Pressure on Houthis
In addition to military action, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently sanctioned Yemen International Bank and three of its executives, accusing the bank of financially supporting the Iran-backed Houthis.
These sanctions follow Washington’s decision to re-designate the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)”, significantly impacting:
International shipping insurance in the Red Sea
Risk assessments for port operations
Vessel docking strategies in the region
The United Nations has warned that cutting off Yemeni banks from the SWIFT system could lead to catastrophic consequences for Yemen’s economy and humanitarian efforts.
⚠️ A Worsening Humanitarian Emergency
Yemen is already facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world:
Over 50% of the population relies on humanitarian assistance
More than 2 million children are at risk of severe malnutrition
The recent U.S. strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, further exacerbating the humanitarian situation. With Ras Isa Port out of service, the shortage of food, fuel, and basic supplies is expected to grow even more severe, endangering the survival of millions of Yemenis.
🌍 Global Repercussions and Call for Balance
The destruction of Ras Isa not only deepens the suffering of Yemen’s civilian population, but also casts a shadow over Red Sea maritime stability and raises concerns in the global energy market.
As international tensions rise, there is an urgent need for the global community to strike a balance between military action and humanitarian principles, ensuring that the crisis does not spiral further out of control.
