Israel orders evacuation of Yemen’s Al Hudaydah port ahead of strike

Israel on Tuesday issued an evacuation order for Yemen’s Red Sea port of Al Hudaydah, warning people and vessels to leave immediately ahead of an expected attack.

In a post on the US social media company X, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israel will strike “in the coming hours” the areas marked in the attached map in response to what it described as military activity by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

Adraee attached a map to his post showing the area that would be targeted​​​​​​​.

“This is an urgent warning to all those present in Al Hudaydah port in Yemen,” Adraee wrote. “For your safety, we call on everyone in the port and vessels docked there to evacuate the area immediately. Anyone remaining in the area is endangering their life.”

Last month, an Israeli strike in the Yemeni capital Sanaa killed the prime minister of the Houthi-run government, Ahmed al-Rahawi, and several ministers.

The Houthis have attacked Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, in support of the Palestinians.

Besides Israel, the US and UK have also carried out airstrikes against the Houthis.