A U.S. airstrike on April 25 struck an oil tanker docked at the Ras Isa terminal in Hodeidah, injuring three Russian crew members and damaging key infrastructure at the port, according to Russian and Houthi sources.
The vessel, flagged under Saint Kitts and Nevis, was preparing to offload its cargo when it was hit. All 19 Russian crew members were evacuated from the site, and the wounded were transferred to the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, for medical treatment.
In the aftermath, the Houthis have imposed a blockade on commercial vessels at Ras Isa, allegedly threatening crews to prevent departures.
These developments mark a further escalation in the conflict, with the U.S. intensifying its campaign against Houthi military assets since mid-March in response to repeated assaults on U.S. and allied naval forces.
