Israel carries out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled port facilities.
Firing Back: Israel's Aerial Assault on Houthi-Held Hodeida Port
In a bold move, Israel's navy unleashed a series of missile attacks on the Yemeni port of Hodeida, governed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This retaliation came after a barrage of hostile actions by the Houthis against Israel, including missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and civilians.
"Our naval forces struck targets belonging to the terrorist Houthi regime in the port of Hodeida... In response to the Houthi's aggressive actions against the State of Israel," the Israeli military announced in a statement. Previously, the Houthis had reported these very strikes on the strategic Red Sea port, claiming no casualties.
The Houthis, part of the "resistance axis" against Israel led by Tehran, have been launching missile and drone attacks on Israel since the onset of the Gaza Strip conflict. Almost all of these attacks have been intercepted. They've also targeted ships deemed to be linked to Israel off the Yemeni coast.
On May 4, a missile fired by the Yemeni rebels hit the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv. The impact caused light injuries and minor property damage. Following this attack, the Israeli military has carried out several strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including ports and the capital Sanaa's airport.
Tightening the Noose
Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, threatened the rebels with a blockade if their attacks persisted. He warned via social media, "The Houthi terrorist organization shall face a powerful response and be subject to a naval and air blockade if it continues to launch attacks towards Israel."
The military had urged the evacuation of three ports controlled by the Houthis earlier. "Due to the use of maritime ports by the Houthi terrorist regime... We call on all persons present in the ports of Ras Issa, Hodeida, and Al-Salif to evacuate immediately for their safety," Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee stated in an Arabic message on social media platforms.
The port of Hodeida and the neighboring Salif port were bombed by the Israeli air force on May 16. The Houthi Ministry of Health then reported one death and nine injuries in these attacks. On May 28, Israeli strikes destroyed the last plane at the Sanaa airport, which had been controlled by the Houthis. This airport had already been targeted by Israeli strikes in the night of May 6-7, resulting in the destruction of six planes.
Background:
While detailed records of Israeli air strikes specifically targeting Yemeni ports controlled by the Houthi rebels since May 2022 are scarce in major news and timeline sources, reports of Houthi attacks against Israeli and U.S. interests are common during this period. Explicit reports of Israeli military forces conducting air strikes on Yemeni territory are not extensively covered in available timelines or news archives since May 2022. Most news coverage focuses on Houthi attacks against Israel and U.S. interests, or regional or U.S.-led military actions against Houthi positions.
If you're looking for such verifiable incidents of Israeli strikes on Houthi-controlled Yemeni ports, they are not widely substantiated in the current public record since May 2022. Most major military actions involving Yemeni ports in this period are attributed to U.S.-led coalitions or Saudi-led forces, rather than Israel.
Here's a summary of key Houthi actions and international responses (excluding Israeli strikes):- 2023-2025: - Houthi attacks: Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, Israeli-linked shipping, and U.S. naval assets in the Red Sea. - International responses: U.S. and coalition forces occasionally conduct air and naval strikes against Houthi positions in response to Houthi attacks on international shipping.
"Politics surrounding war-and-conflicts in Yemen have intensified, with Israel's defense minister threatening the Houthi rebels with a blockade if their attacks persist, highlighting the general news of increasing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthi regime."
"The Israeli military's targeting of Houthi-held ports, such as Hodeida, and Airports, like Sanaa, is a part of the ongoing general news of Israel's response to hostile actions by the Houthis, including missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and civilians."
