In Yemen's rebel-held Hodeida port, firefighting teams are struggling to contain a massive blaze that erupted after a deadly Israeli strike damaged oil storage facilities and put aid ships in jeopardy. The fire, which started on Saturday, continues to rage, sending heavy flames and thick black smoke spiraling into the sky for a third consecutive day.

Despite the efforts of firefighters, little progress has been made in controlling the blaze, with some parts of the port still expanding in flames. There are concerns that the fire could reach food storage facilities, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.

The Israeli strike, the first in Yemen, was in response to a Huthi rebel drone attack that breached Israel's air defenses, resulting in the death of one person in Tel Aviv the day before. Satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies reveal the heavily damaged fuel storage area consumed by flames at Hodeida harbor.

According to Wim Zwijnenburg, a project leader with the Dutch peace organization PAX, at least 33 oil storage tankers have been destroyed, as observed in high-resolution satellite imagery from Planet. However, the full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed due to heavy smoke obstructing visibility.

The Yemen Petroleum Company, which operates the fuel depot, reported that six of its employees were killed in the Israeli strike. The Huthi rebels claim that over 80 others were wounded, many of them suffering from severe burns. In response to the strikes, the Huthis have vowed to mount a significant retaliation against Tel Aviv.

Port authorities in Hodeida assure that the port is operating at full capacity, according to the rebels' Saba news agency. Nasr al-Nusairi, a port official, reiterated that they are working diligently to receive all ships and ensure the continuous supply of food, medicine, and oil derivatives.

However, the US-based Navanti Group stated that the strikes destroyed five cranes and decimated most of the port's fuel storage capacity, leaving only 50,000 tonnes available instead of the previous 150,000 tonnes. The World Food Programme reported "minor" damage to one of its aid vessels' crane and a significant impact on its fuel storage facility, with an estimated 780,000 liters of fuel likely destroyed.

Hodeida port is a crucial entry point for fuel imports and international aid destined for rebel-held areas of Yemen, where more than half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the attack, stating that the suffering of Yemenis living in Huthi-controlled territories would be further exacerbated by such actions.

The International Rescue Committee charity emphasized the port's importance as a vital lifeline for delivering humanitarian aid to Yemen, highlighting the potential disruption and hindrance the attack could cause to ongoing relief efforts.