Saudi Warplanes Attack Yemen Port City, Killing 19 Civilians

Attacks Near Presidential Palace in Hodeidah

Residential in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah have reported that Saudi warplanes have attacked and destroyed a home in a neighborhood near the presidential palace, killing at least 19 civilians and wounding dozens of others.

The strike was in a neighborhood whose residents are mostly employees at the palace, and officials say the toll is not yet final, with rescue workers still combing through the wreckage to recover more people buried under the rubble.

The presidential palace was apparently also hit in the raid, with local Houthi leader Ali al-Amad telling people he had survived a strike against the palace. It is unclear how many casualties that strike caused, or exactly when it happened.

Hodeidah is the main port near the capital city of Sanaa. The port has the primary route through which humanitarian raid can flow into the capital, after Saudi planes attacked the Sanaa Airport. Saudi forces have also intermittently attacked the port, claiming that ships were docked without the authorization of the naval blockade forces.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.