Israel Targets Yemen Ports, Clashes Escalate
Israeli Strikes on Houthi Ports in Yemen
Israeli fighter jets launched airstrikes on Friday, targeting two key ports in Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels. The attacks, carried out by 15 jets and involving over 35 munitions, struck the Hodeidah and Al-Salif ports, considered vital for the Houthis’ operations.
According to Israeli officials, these ports were being used to transfer weapons and represented a significant threat. The military stated that the strikes were a response to the Houthis’ continued missile attacks towards Israel. The IDF estimates that the damage inflicted will likely render these ports inoperable for at least a month.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, taking to X/Twitter shortly after the strikes, asserted that the ports had been “severely damaged.” He emphasized Israel’s determination to defend itself against any threat and warned that the Houthis would face “painful blows” if they persisted in their attacks.
“As we said: If the Houthis continue to fire missiles toward the State of Israel, they will suffer painful blows — and we will also target terror leaders as we have done with Deif and the Sinwars in Gaza, Nasrallah in Beirut, and Haniyeh in Tehran. We will hunt down and eliminate Abd al-Malik al-Houthi in Yemen as well.”
– Defense Minister Israel Katz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the Houthi attacks, stating that Israel would not tolerate being harmed and would retaliate forcefully. He specifically pointed to Iran as the source of support for the Houthis, vowing that they would face a heavy price for their actions.
The Israeli military stated that the strikes were carried out after repeated warnings, urging anyone present at the ports to evacuate. They emphasized their commitment to preventing any hostile activity within these ports and vowed to continue striking against any threat to Israel, regardless of distance.
This latest escalation in the conflict comes after a series of Houthi missile launches towards Israel, with the IDF intercepting most of them. Earlier last week, the Israeli Air Force had already targeted these same ports in a similar operation.
Background and Context
Israel has long been concerned about the Houthis’ growing influence in Yemen and their alleged links to Iran. The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have frequently launched missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, a key Israeli ally in the region. Israel has also accused Iran of supplying weapons to the Houthis, fueling tensions in the region.
The strikes on the Yemeni ports mark a significant escalation in Israel’s involvement in the Yemeni conflict. It remains to be seen how the Houthis will respond to these attacks, but the situation has the potential to further destabilize the already volatile region.
