Israel Launches Strikes on Houthis in Yemen After Red Sea Ship Attack
Israel has launched its first airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, hitting multiple ports and a power plant from late Sunday night into Monday morning.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes came in response to at least three ballistic missiles launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthi group, including one that was intercepted on Saturday. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for attacking the bulk carrier Magic Seas in the Red Sea on Sunday—their first assault on commercial shipping in 2025.
Israeli forces targeted the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Kanatib power station. They also struck the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023 and reportedly repurposed with radar systems to track maritime targets for attacks.
Ahead of the strikes, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued evacuation warnings for the targeted facilities. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation was part of a new military campaign dubbed Operation Black Flag, warning that the Houthis would “pay a heavy price” if attacks on Israel persisted.
The Houthis acknowledged the Israeli strikes, claiming their air defenses countered them using a barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles. No casualties have been reported.
A senior Houthi official, Mohammed Al Farah, condemned the targeting of ports and civilian infrastructure, saying it had “no connection to military operations.”
The Magic Seas—the ship struck Sunday—was attacked with drones, missiles, and unmanned boats. The Houthis claimed it had sunk due to damage sustained. The rebels asserted the ship’s owner had previously used Israeli ports, justifying the attack as part of their campaign against entities tied to what they call “occupied Palestine.”
Operator Stem Shipping confirmed the vessel had visited Israeli ports in the past but said its current transit had no ties to Israel. The 19-member crew was safely evacuated and transported to Djibouti by another ship, with assistance from the UAE and UK maritime authorities.
While the Houthis halted attacks on U.S. warships in May after sustained American airstrikes, they have continued targeting vessels linked to Israel and launching missiles in support of Palestinians in Gaza—part of a wider regional escalation following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
