Human Rights Watch Calls Israel's Attack on Hodeidah Port a 'Possible War Crime'

A month after Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah port in Yemen in response to a deadly drone attack by Houthi rebels on Tel Aviv, Human Rights Watch labeled Israel's attack as an 'possible war crime' due to its disproportionate response. The Israeli Air Force bombed oil facilities and a power plant in Hodeidah on July 30, one day after a civilian Israeli was killed in his home by an explosive drone sent by the Houthis. The New York-based group also categorized the Houthi attack on civilian centers in Israel and the killing of an Israeli citizen as a possible war crime. However, it reported that Israel targeted numerous oil storage facilities, two ship-loading cranes, and a power plant in Hodeidah, killing six and injuring at least 80. Human Rights Watch described the disproportionate harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure as a serious violation of the laws of war. Satellite images from Hodeidah showed flames from the Israeli attack rising for three days. Hodeidah, which came under Houthi control during Yemen's civil war, is a critical port for the transfer of food and necessities for the impoverished and war-torn country, which heavily relies on imports of these items. According to Reuters, about 70% of commercial goods and 80% of humanitarian aid to Yemen pass through Hodeidah. Israel, accepting responsibility for the attack, emphasized that the Tehran-aligned Houthis had launched over 200 rocket and drone attacks on Israel since the beginning of Hamas's assault on Israeli territory, most of which were intercepted and destroyed. The Houthis initiated their military campaign against Israel shortly after the Gaza war began, aiming to damage Israeli facilities at the port of Eilat on the Red Sea. After these attacks and extensive assaults on dozens of global commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis were reclassified as a terrorist group by the U.S. Based on vessel monitoring, it was found that no oil tankers have arrived at Hodeidah since the Israeli attack on July 30, and no companies plan to send tankers to the port in the following month. According to the Israeli economic newspaper Globes, the airstrike significantly reduced the Houthis' income in the region's most underdeveloped country, which was largely sustained by oil smuggling. This income was as vital as air for the group. Oil production in Hodeidah dropped from about 450,000 barrels per day to around 51,000 barrels following the Israeli attack. The Houthis were accused of establishing a large oil smuggling industry through Hodeidah. Israeli officials stated that the extensive airstrike on Hodeidah was intended to serve as a lesson to the Houthis to refrain from repeating attacks on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated hours after the attack that they had previously warned that anyone who harms Israel would be targeted. He emphasized that Hodeidah was not chosen by chance for the strike and was not an 'innocent' port, as it was used for 'military purposes and the import of deadly Iranian weapons.' The Houthis have ceased their attacks on Israel in the past month but have promised revenge for the Israeli attack 'in the future.'