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Israel Targets Yemen’s Iran-Backed Huthi Rebel Ports After Missile Attacks
Israel has threatened to strike the leadership of Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels following air force attacks on two key rebel-held ports on Friday. The strikes came after a series of Huthi missile launches targeting Israel in recent days.
Earlier this month, the Huthis agreed to halt attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea after intensified U.S. air strikes, supported by the UK, on rebel-controlled areas. However, the rebels continue to launch missile attacks against Israel, firing three missiles over three consecutive days this week, triggering air raid sirens in major Israeli cities.
According to the Huthis’ Al-Masirah TV, Israel targeted the Red Sea port city of Hodeida and the northern port of Salif, crucial points for humanitarian aid deliveries. Israeli military confirmed the strikes, calling the targeted locations “terrorist infrastructure sites” used for transferring weapons. Prior warnings were given to civilians in the areas.
Israel accuses the Huthi rebels of exploiting civilian infrastructure to advance their militant activities. The Huthis have controlled large parts of Yemen for over a decade and began targeting Israel-linked shipping lanes in November 2023, shortly after the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted. Their missile campaign against Israel is framed as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Huthi leadership of escalated retaliation, stating, “We will hit them far more, including their leadership and all the infrastructure that allows them to hit us.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz added that continued missile attacks would bring consequences similar to those faced by Hamas leaders in Gaza. Katz specifically named Huthi leader Abd al-Malek al-Huthi as a target for elimination.
In early May, a rare Huthi missile strike hit Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, damaging its terminal and injuring several people. Israel responded by attacking sites in Yemen’s rebel capital Sanaa and nearby power stations.
UN Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg called the recent exchanges a “dangerous escalation,” warning that Yemen remains deeply entangled in broader regional conflicts.
