Israel conducts strikes on Houthi facilities at three ports and a power plant in Yemen
In a series of aerial attacks, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Houthi-controlled ports and power plants in Yemen, marking the first Israeli strike in the country in nearly a month. The operations, which took place between the night of July 6 and morning of July 7, 2025, focused on key strategic sites in Hodeidah, Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Kanatib power plant.
The IDF's primary objective was to cripple Houthi military capabilities, as these locations were reportedly being used to support terrorist activities against Israel. For instance, the seized *Galaxy Leader* commercial vessel, anchored at Ras Isa since November 2023, had been equipped with radar systems to monitor maritime traffic and assist in planning attacks. The Ras Kanatib power station was described by Israel as a vital energy source for Houthi military efforts, making it a strategic target.
These attacks are part of Israel's retaliation for ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and shipping since November 2023. The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea between November 2023 and January 2025, sinking two ships and killing four sailors, significantly disrupting maritime trade in the region.
The Houthis' actions are linked to the broader conflict involving Israel, Hamas, and Iran-backed groups, with the Houthis positioning themselves in solidarity with Palestinian factions. Hours after the attacks, the Israeli military reported that two missiles were launched from Yemen, with attempts made to intercept them, although the results of these interceptions are still being reviewed.
The Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for the population of the three Yemeni ports before the attacks. However, no immediate information about casualties was available from the attacks in Hodeida. The Houthi air defenses claimed to have repelled the Israeli attack using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles, as reported by Al-Masirah TV channel, run by the Houthis.
The conflict is intertwined with wider regional tensions and proxy engagements linked to the Gaza war and the broader Axis of Resistance dynamics. This latest series of attacks marks the continuation of the series of retaliatory attacks by Israel in response to repeated offensives by the Houthis against Israel. The majority of the missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles fired at Israel have been intercepted or missed their target.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) focused on strategic sites in their aerial attacks, targeting key military and energy sources in Yemen, such as Ras Isa, where a commercial vessel had been used to monitor maritime traffic and support terror activities against Israel. In a response to ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks, these operations are part of Israel's wider conflict involving Hamas and Iran-backed groups, with general news outlets reporting further tensions in the region.
