In a significant escalation in the ongoing regional tensions, Israel launched airstrikes early Monday on Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen, targeting three Red Sea ports and a key power facility. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif ports, as well as the Ras Qantib power plant, marking the first Israeli assault on Yemeni territory in nearly a month.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the operation was a direct response to renewed Houthi missile launches toward Israeli territory. Hours after the strikes, the IDF reported that two missiles were fired from Yemen, prompting an interception effort. The outcome of the interceptions remains under review. Israel’s national ambulance service noted that it received no reports of casualties or missile impacts.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has launched multiple attacks against Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, asserting solidarity with Palestinians. While many of the projectiles were intercepted or fell short, the ongoing Houthi activity has severely disrupted maritime trade and drawn repeated retaliatory responses from Israel.
Among the targets struck was the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel docked at Ras Isa port and previously seized by the Houthis in late 2023. The Israeli military alleged that the Houthis had converted the ship into a surveillance platform, installing radar equipment used to monitor and target vessels in international waters.
Houthi military officials responded by claiming their air defenses had confronted the Israeli assault using domestically produced surface-to-air missiles. While no casualties were immediately reported, residents of Hodeidah told Reuters that the city’s main power station was knocked out during the attacks, plunging the area into darkness.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported multiple strikes on Hodeidah and confirmed that an Israeli warning was issued advising civilians to evacuate the three targeted ports prior to the assault. The strikes coincided with an apparent attack on a vessel near Hodeidah, which was abandoned by its crew after taking on water. Although no group claimed responsibility, maritime security firm Ambrey noted the incident bore hallmarks of previous Houthi operations.
The attacks underscore the growing regional dimensions of the Gaza war. While Israel has dealt major blows to Iran’s regional allies—namely Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza—the Houthis and other Tehran-backed groups in Iraq continue to pose threats.
Led by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis have evolved from a local insurgent group into a well-armed force with tens of thousands of fighters and an arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones—many of which Western and Saudi officials claim are supplied by Iran, a charge Tehran denies.
