Israel strikes Yemen's port city of Hodeida, prompts retaliatory attacks by Iran-backed Houthis

Israel said Monday (July 7) that it had launched air strikes on multiple sites in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Red Sea port city of Hodeida and nearby areas, prompting retaliatory missile attacks by the Iran-backed rebel group.

The Houthis, who have supported the Palestinian cause since war erupted in Gaza in October 2023, have repeatedly targeted Israel with drones and missiles. Monday’s exchange marks another escalation in the regional fallout from the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Israel’s military said its latest wave of air strikes hit “terror infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime,” including the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif. Among the targets, it claimed, was the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was captured by the Houthis in November and allegedly outfitted with a radar system to track commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

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“These strikes were in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel,” the Israeli army said in a statement.

Houthi missile response

Hours after the Israeli bombardment, the Israeli military reported that two missiles had been launched from Yemen. Houthi military spokesman Yehyaa Saree later claimed responsibility, saying in a video statement that the group had targeted Ben Gurion airport, the ports of Ashdod and Eilat, and a power station in Ashkelon.

“These were in retaliation for this aggression,” Saree said.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah television confirmed the Israeli attacks, reporting that “the Israeli enemy is targeting the port of Hodeida,” and also cited strikes on Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Al-Kathib power station. The television station said the strikes came roughly 30 minutes after an Israeli army spokesman warned of imminent action on social media.

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The Houthis have framed their campaign as an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. They resumed attacks on Israel in March after a two-month ceasefire in Gaza broke down and Israel resumed its military operations.

Since November, the Houthis have targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, especially vessels they claim are linked to Israel.

Continued maritime threats

On Sunday (July 6), unidentified gunmen in skiffs attacked a commercial vessel off Yemen’s coast in the Red Sea, forcing the crew to abandon ship after it was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the crew were rescued by a passing merchant ship and were “all well and safe.”

While no group claimed responsibility for that attack, UK-based security firm Ambrey said the targeted vessel matched “the established Houthi target profile.”

The Houthis expanded their maritime campaign earlier this year to include US and British-linked ships after the two nations began air strikes against rebel sites in January in an attempt to protect vital sea lanes.

Although the Houthis reached a ceasefire deal with the United States in May that ended weeks of intense US-led strikes, the group has insisted it will continue targeting Israeli vessels.

With inputs from AFP