Israel conducted synchronized airstrikes on several Houthi-held targets in Yemen in the early hours of Monday morning, hours after a vessel was attacked near the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah in the Red Sea. The Israeli military confirmed the airstrikes and asserted that they came in response to sustained Houthi attacks on Israeli interests.
The targets were Houthi sites at the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, as well as the Ras Qantib power plant, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These are the first Israeli airstrikes against Yemeni soil in close to a month.
Israel Strike Targets Ship Used by Houthis for Surveillance
Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader toward the end of 2023 and anchored it in the Ras Isa port, making it one of the most important targets. “The forces of the Houthi terrorist regime placed a radar system on board the vessel, and are utilizing it to monitor ships in international maritime space, in a bid to advance the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities,” the Israeli army stated, as cited by Reuters.
Israel issued pre-strike evacuation alerts to civilians stationed at the three targeted port facilities. The warning marked a rare instance of pre-strike communication in Israel’s conflict with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
Red Sea Ship Abandoned After Skiff Assault
The escalation followed a dramatic sea battle late Sunday evening, when Houthi fighters attacked a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel in the Red Sea. The vessel was reportedly moving northbound when eight skiffs coordinated an attack some 100 kilometers southwest of Hodeidah, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The armed security team on board fired back, but the crew ultimately abandoned the vessel after it caught fire. A report by AP read, “The situation is ongoing,” describing the unstable and risky situation in the key trade corridor.
The recent escalation is a reminder of the rising sea-borne threat by Houthi rebels in one of the globe’s most important shipping routes and is an indication of Israel’s willingness to directly challenge such threats well beyond its territorial frontiers.
