ByEuronews &AP
Published on
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Israel launched strikes against ports and facilities controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels early Monday morning, to which the rebels responded with missile fire aimed at Israel.
The IDF confirmed hitting Houthi-held ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant.
According to an Israeli military spokesperson, “These ports serve the Houthi terrorist regime in transferring weapons from the Iranian regime, which are used to carry out terrorist operations against the State of Israel and its allies.”
The Houthis confirmed the Israeli strikes but gave no details on the extent of the damage. Their military spokesperson, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, stated that their air defenses were able to effectively counter the assault.
In response, the Houthis launched an attack against Israel, attempting to hit the country with a missile. Although the Israeli military tried to intercept it, the missile apparently made impact, with no immediate reports of casualties.
These attacks follow reports that a Liberian-flagged ship was attacked on Sunday, resulting in the crew abandoning the vessel. There was immediate speculation that the Houthis were responsible; a security firm suggested that bomb-carrying drone boats, following an assault by small arms and grenades, were to blame.
Houthi media covered the attack but did not claim responsibility.
The timing of these events is particularly sensitive, given the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas being negotiated as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the US.
With the US President Donald Trump having already targeted Houthi rebels in airstrikes since resuming office, a renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could potentially draw the US and other Western powers further into the region.
