Israel attacks three Yemeni ports and power plant, Israeli military says

The Israeli military said Monday it launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, marking its first attack on Yemen in a month. The operation comes in response to renewed Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel, which have intensified since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

According to a Reuters report, the Israeli strikes hit the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, along with the Ras Qantib power plant on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Israeli military claimed the attacks were necessary to disrupt Houthi operations and prevent further threats to its territory.

In a statement, Israel said that its forces warned civilians to evacuate the port areas prior to the strikes. Residents in Hodeidah confirmed that the attack on the power station resulted in a complete power outage in the area. No immediate reports of casualties were available.

Hours after the strikes, Israel reported that two missiles were launched from Yemen, though the success of interception efforts remains under review. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for retaliatory attacks, saying they had launched missiles and drones at multiple Israeli targets.

Israel also confirmed that one of its targets was the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel seized by Houthi forces in late 2023 and held at Ras Isa port. The Israeli military accused the Houthis of installing a radar system on the ship to track commercial maritime traffic and support its operations in the Red Sea and beyond.

“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space,” the Israeli military stated.