Strikes by Israel on Gaza and Yemen, following missed missile launches by the Houthis.
In recent developments, the ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Israel has taken a significant turn, with Israel carrying out extensive airstrikes against Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen and the Houthis launching retaliatory attacks on both Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Israel's military actions have targeted Houthi-controlled ports in Hodeidah, Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Khatib power station, as well as the hijacked maritime vessel, the 'Galaxy Leader', which was seized by the Houthis in 2023 for maritime surveillance against Israel and global shipping. These strikes are a response to repeated ballistic missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis on Israeli territory, as well as their use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
In response, the Houthis have launched new missile attacks towards Israel and continued their assaults on commercial vessels near Yemen’s Al Hudaydah port in the Red Sea. This ongoing conflict has severely disrupted shipping routes in one of the world's busiest maritime corridors—the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Houthi attacks include missile launches, drone boat assaults, and small arms fire against commercial vessels, forcing rerouting and heightening security concerns for maritime traffic in the region.
The disruption to global trade in these strategic waterways is considered the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Houthis have also threatened to resume attacks on US-associated vessels after the US joined Israel's offensive on Iran's nuclear sites.
As the conflict intensifies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in the United States ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump. Netanyahu is expected to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff before his meeting with Trump. The results of the interception of the missiles launched by the Houthis are currently under review.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-carries-out-strikes-on-yemen-ports-houthi-media-2025-07-06/ [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/7/yemen-war-israel-launches-strikes-on-houthi-controlled-ports [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-yemen-hodeidah.html [4] https://www.reuters.com/business/shipping-summit/yemen-conflict-disruption-red-sea-gulf-aden-shipping-routes-largest-since-covid-19-pandemic-2025-07-08/ [5] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58990170
- The ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Israel in Yemen has significantly affected health and safety, with missile attacks and airstrikes posing a risk to both regional residents and global shipping.
- News outlets are reporting increased business tensions due to the disruption of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes, causing logistical problems for commerce and trade.
- Political discussions have intensified as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Donald Trump and other US officials, addressing concerns about escalating war-and-conflicts in the Middle East.
- Lifestyle and general-news have been impacted by the risk to maritime travel, with increased security measures and rerouting of vessels affecting tourism and the broader economy.
