Tel Aviv / Sanaa, July 7, 2025 — The Israeli military announced it has carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, marking its first attack on the country in nearly a month. The strikes targeted three key ports—Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif—as well as the Ras Qantib power plant.
The assault comes just hours after an unidentified vessel was attacked off the coast of Hodeidah, prompting the crew to abandon ship as it took on water. While no group claimed responsibility for the maritime attack, security firm Ambrey stated the ship matched the typical profile of a Houthi target.
According to the Israeli military, the Houthis had installed a radar system on the Galaxy Leader, a ship seized by the group in late 2023, using it to monitor vessels in international waters. Israel cited this as a justification for launching retaliatory strikes, labeling the Houthis as a “terrorist regime.”
“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote their terrorist activities,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV confirmed the attacks on Hodeidah and claimed Israel had issued evacuation warnings to civilians prior to the strikes.
The escalation reflects growing tensions in the region since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The Iran-backed Houthi movement has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks at Israel and targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, saying these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
While many of the Houthi projectiles have either been intercepted or failed to reach Israeli territory, Israel has conducted multiple retaliatory strikes in Yemen, targeting what it describes as operational and surveillance infrastructure used to destabilize regional trade.
The international community has raised concerns about the impact of these exchanges on global shipping routes and regional security, as the Red Sea remains a critical corridor for international commerce.
