Israel Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen After Red Sea Attacks

Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi positions across three key Yemeni ports and a power plant early Monday, marking its first attack on Yemen in nearly a month. The Israeli military confirmed targeting Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif ports, along with the Ras Qantib power plant, citing ongoing Houthi missile and drone assaults as provocation.

Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi forces have repeatedly attacked Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. Most Houthi-fired projectiles have been intercepted or failed to reach their targets, prompting Israeli retaliatory measures.

Among the latest strikes, Israel also hit the Galaxy Leader, a ship seized by Houthis in late 2023 at Ras Isa port. According to Israeli officials, the Houthis installed a radar system on the vessel to monitor maritime activity, further escalating regional tensions.

The Houthi military responded by deploying locally made surface-to-air missiles to counter the Israeli attack. Following the strikes, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported power outages in Hodeidah after the city’s main power station was hit. Residents confirmed that the city was left in darkness.

Just hours before the Israeli offensive, a commercial vessel was attacked near Hodeidah, forcing its crew to abandon ship as it began to sink. Although no group claimed responsibility, maritime security firm Ambrey stated the incident matched typical Houthi tactics.

While Israel has dealt blows to Iran-aligned forces such as Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis and other Iran-supported factions in Iraq remain operational. Under the leadership of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the group has evolved from a local militia into a well-equipped military force with advanced drones and ballistic missiles—weaponry allegedly supplied by Iran, though Tehran denies involvement.