Firefighting teams in Yemen’s Hodeida port are battling a colossal blaze that erupted following a deadly Israeli strike. This inferno has been raging for days, threatening to escalate into a full-blown disaster. The port, under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, is now a scene of chaos and destruction as flames and black smoke spiral into the sky, marking the third day of relentless fire.
Yemen’s Hodeida battles port blaze after deadly Israel strikes 2107024
Firefighting teams are still battling a blaze at the Huthi-run port in Yemen’s Hodeida, hours after Israeli strikes on the harbour triggered a massive fire and killed three people, according to the rebels. pic.twitter.com/3K9TgbhYWK— john l (@Maeestro) July 21, 2024
The strike hit oil storage facilities, endangering aid ships docked in the harbor. An AFP correspondent on the ground reported that the firefighting efforts were proving futile, with the blaze expanding and showing no signs of containment. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies captured the intense flames consuming the heavily damaged fuel storage area. The Dutch peace organization PAX analyzed these images, revealing at least 33 destroyed oil storage tankers. Wim Zwijnenburg, a project leader with PAX, noted that the full extent of the damage remains unclear due to the dense smoke.
The Yemen Petroleum Company confirmed that six of its employees were killed in the Israeli strike, while the Houthis reported over 80 people injured, many suffering severe burns. A somber funeral ceremony was held for the victims, with their coffins paraded through the streets of Hodeida, flanked by mourning crowds and a Houthi marching band.
This strike marked Israel’s first on Yemen, following a Houthi-launched drone attack that breached Israel’s air defenses and killed one person in Tel Aviv. The Houthis, part of a network of Iran-supported groups, have vowed a significant retaliation, including threats to attack Tel Aviv again.
📷: Thick smoke billows from a raging fire at oil storage tanks a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen’s Houthi-held city of Hodeida on July 21, 2024.https://t.co/yNTQ8Durt9 pic.twitter.com/L1XVQMfRMI
— Voice of America (@VOANews) July 22, 2024
The conflict in Yemen is further complicated by ongoing U.S. and British military actions targeting Houthi infrastructure, in response to the group’s frequent attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing war between their ideological allies Hamas and Israeli forces.
The fire at Hodeida port has not only devastated the oil storage facilities but also raised fears of an even larger catastrophe if the flames reach the food storage areas. The relentless spread of the fire underscores the immense challenges faced by firefighting teams, battling against the odds in a bid to prevent further destruction.
The geopolitical ramifications of this incident are profound, highlighting the intertwined nature of regional conflicts. The Houthis’ alignment with Iran and their aggressive stance against Israel and Western forces amplify the complexity of achieving peace in the region. The ongoing instability in Yemen, fueled by external interventions and internal insurgencies, continues to pose a significant threat to regional security and humanitarian efforts.
Yemen’s Houthi-held port of Hodeida still ablaze 2 days after Israeli strike#Yemen pic.twitter.com/KUKVgXPhjI
— AsadKhan (@Khan____369) July 22, 2024
Major Points:
- Firefighters in Yemen’s Hodeida port struggle to contain a massive blaze after an Israeli strike.
- The fire threatens food storage facilities and has already destroyed 33 oil tankers.
- The Yemen Petroleum Company reported six deaths, with over 80 people injured according to the Houthis.
- The Israeli strike was in retaliation for a Houthi drone attack that killed one in Tel Aviv.
- U.S. and British forces have been targeting Houthi infrastructure due to their attacks on Red Sea vessels.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
