Two navy missile boats, including a Saar 6, fired two long-range precision missiles from hundreds of kilometers away around 7:00 am against Houthi targets on Tuesday.

Some of the Houthi targets that were struck were platforms for ships to anchor within the port.

Further, the IDF said that the explosive power of the sea-to-land missiles would leave a mark and promote a different kind of deterrence than bombs from the air.

Getting the navy involved is part of a broader strategy to deter foreign ships from using or approaching the port, given that naval vessels can remain in the area and strike repeatedly, much more easily than aircraft, which must strike and then immediately fly back, lest they run out of fuel.

In addition, the navy, given its capability to remain at sea for an extended period, can be more precise about the ideal operational moment to strike.

Illustrative: Smoke rises from the site of Israeli air strikes at the port of Hodeidah, in Hodeidah, Yemen July 21, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)
Illustrative: Smoke rises from the site of Israeli air strikes at the port of Hodeidah, in Hodeidah, Yemen July 21, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)
In contrast, an airstrike is planned in advance with some intelligence awareness of the coming hours, but much less of an ability to time what will be occurring in the ports at the moment of a given airstrike.

The IDF had sent warnings of other ports that will be targeted

The IDF said there will be more naval operations against the Houthis in the future, without specifying a time frame. 

In a warning late Monday night, the IDF had cited other ports which could be attacked in the near future.

No mention was made of using the naval forces against Iran.

Finally, the IDF said that one quarter of the naval soldiers involved in the operation were women, a new high for women serving in naval combat operations.