Sanaa (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israel launched strikes against Houthi targets at three Yemeni ports and a power plant early Monday, marking its first attack on Yemen in nearly a month. The military targeted the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, along with the Ras Qantib power station on the coast, as a response to ongoing Houthi attacks on Israel.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting international trade in what they describe as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Most of the numerous missiles and drones aimed at Israel have been intercepted or missed their targets. Israel has responded with a series of retaliatory strikes.
Why did Israel strike three ports in Yemen?
Hours later, Israel reported that two missiles were launched from Yemen. Efforts to intercept the projectiles were underway, though the outcome was still being evaluated. The Houthi forces claimed to have launched missiles and drones at several targets in Israel in response to the attacks on Yemen.
The Israeli ambulance service stated that they had not received any calls about missile strikes or injuries after the launches from Yemen. Israel stated that its Monday attacks also targeted a ship, the Galaxy Leader, which was seized by the Houthis in late 2023 and held at Ras Isa port.
“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities,”
The military stated.
The Houthi military spokesperson stated that the group’s air defences countered the Israeli attack using a significant number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles.
The Israeli assault occurred hours after a ship was attacked near Hodeidah, and the crew abandoned it as it began taking on water. No group claimed responsibility right away, but the security firm Ambrey noted that the vessel matched the usual profile of a target by Houthis.
Are Houthi missiles a growing threat to Israel?
Before the Israeli airstrikes on Yemen on July 7, 2025, which were to be the last major airstrike that Israel launched, the last major attack took place on May 5-6, 2025. On May 5, Israel conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a Houthi ballistic missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport on May 4. More attacks on Houthi-held ports such as Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif were reported on May 11 and May 16, 2025, where Israel attacked reported infrastructure for weapons transfer.
