Explosions shook the Hodeidah region in Yemen late Sunday evening, not long after the IDF issued a warning that the Israeli Air Force had launched strikes aimed at Houthi rebel targets in the area.
Defense Minister Yisroel Katz confirmed the military operation, stating, “As part of Operation ‘Black Flag,’ the IDF has now powerfully struck terrorist targets of the Houthi terror regime in the ports of Hodeidah, Al-Salif, and Ras Issa, the Ras Katib power station, and the ship Galaxy Leader which was hijacked by the Houthis about two years ago and is currently being used for terrorist activities in the Red Sea.”
Katz further warned of severe consequences for those who seek to harm Israel, saying, “As I warned: The fate of Yemen is the same as that of Tehran. Anyone who tries to harm Israel will be harmed, and anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.”
In a statement released shortly after the strikes, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit provided more details about the mission: “IAF fighter jets, guided by intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy, struck and destroyed terror infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime. Among the targets were the ports of Al Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Salif.”
“These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the State of Israel and its allies,” the statement explained.
The IDF clarified the reason for the strike, noting it was a direct reaction to repeated attacks: “The strike was carried out in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, its civilians, and civilian infrastructure, including the launching of UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles toward Israeli territory.”
According to the IDF, the Houthi rebels have been exploiting the sea for terrorist operations. “The Houthi terrorist regime exploits the maritime domain to project force and conduct terrorist activity against passing vessels and global maritime commerce. The targets struck demonstrate the regime’s systematic use of civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes,” the statement read.
The military also singled out one particularly notable target: “Among the terror targets struck at the port of Ras Isa was the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel seized by the Houthi terrorist regime in November 2023. Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities.”
The strikes also included a facility used by the Houthis to power their military efforts. “Additionally, the Ras Kanatib power plant, which served as a significant electricity supply facility for the Houthi regime’s military operations, was struck. This is another example of how the Houthi regime uses civilian infrastructure.”
Highlighting the broader threat, the IDF underscored Iran’s backing of the Houthis. “The Houthi terrorist regime serves as a central proxy of the Iranian regime and receives funding and weaponry for its operations. It is a partner in Iran’s global terrorist activity. The IDF is determined to continue operating decisively against any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel, wherever required,” the statement concluded.
Before the strikes, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee had issued a warning urging people to vacate the targeted areas. “An urgent warning to those present in the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Al-Salif, and to those in the Hodeidah-Ras Al-Khatib power station, which are under the control of the Houthi terror regime.”
He stressed the importance of taking immediate action to avoid harm: “In the near future, the IDF will carry out strikes in these areas due to military activities taking place there. For your safety, we call on all those present in the designated areas, as well as vessels anchored nearby, to evacuate immediately. Remaining in these areas puts you in danger,” Adraee emphasized.
Earlier Sunday morning, at approximately 2:50 a.m., the IDF announced that a missile had been launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory, prompting air defense systems to engage and attempt an interception.
Just moments after that report, warning sirens were heard in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea region.
The military confirmed that the incoming missile had been successfully intercepted. Magen David Adom reported that there were no injuries or damages related to the incident.
Again on Tuesday evening, another missile launch from Yemen was detected by Israeli defense forces. Air defense systems acted quickly and neutralized the threat. As a precautionary measure, Israeli airspace was temporarily shut down to flights.
Magen David Adom once more reported no casualties as a result of the incident.
Later, a statement was released by the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claiming responsibility for the attack and revealing their targets. “We launched a ballistic missile of the ‘Palestine 2’ type toward Ben Gurion Airport and three additional drones toward sensitive Israeli targets in the areas of Jaffa, Ashkelon, and Eilat,” claimed Saree.
{Matzav.com Israel}
