Media: Yemen’s Ras Isa port rocked by new strikes, US military silent on operation

US military forces reportedly carried out two airstrikes targeting the Ras Isa seaport in Yemen’s As-Salif district.

The strikes, which were first reported by Yemen’s Al Masirah television network, are said to have hit at least two locations within the strategic port area situated along the Red Sea coast, Caliber.Az informs.

The precise nature of the targets and the extent of any damage or casualties remain unclear.

As of April 26 morning, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the operation.

On April 18, US airstrikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port resulted in the deaths of at least 80 individuals, according to Houthi officials, marking one of the deadliest US operations in the country to date. The Hodeidah Health Office later revised the casualty figures, reporting that at least 150 others were wounded, including rescue workers and paramedics. The strikes were concentrated around the strategic port facility, with multiple areas reportedly targeted.

The US Central Command confirmed the strikes, stating that the operation aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ access to vital fuel supplies and financial resources. “Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists,” CENTCOM said in a post on social media. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis.”

Ras Isa, located in Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate on the Red Sea coast, is home to a cluster of oil storage tanks and energy infrastructure. Although the facility once served as a key export terminal for oil from the resource-rich Marib region, it has since become a critical import hub for fuel—such as gasoline, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas—used across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. With the Houthis no longer controlling Marib, Ras Isa’s strategic importance lies in its role in sustaining local energy needs.

Media reports from Sana’a, confirmed that while several regions were struck, the Ras Isa port was the primary focus of the bombardment. The port’s proximity to Kamaran Island, which has also been subjected to recent US airstrikes, underscores the intensifying nature of American military operations in western Yemen.

By Vafa Guliyeva