Israel has confirmed it launched a series of airstrikes targeting three ports and a key power station in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group.
The military operation, dubbed “Operation Black Flag,” comes amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the strikes were aimed at degrading Houthi military infrastructure and disrupting what Israel called a growing threat from Yemen. Among the targets were Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Saif ports, along with the Ras Kanatib power station, which supplies electricity to the Yemeni cities of Ibb and Taizz.
One of the central targets, according to Israeli officials, was the commercial ship Galaxy Leader, hijacked by Houthi forces in 2023. Israel claims the vessel has since been used as a surveillance base for monitoring maritime activity in international waters.
“These are calculated, pre-emptive strikes on infrastructure used to launch attacks against Israel,” Defence Minister Gallant said. “The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for threatening Israeli security.”
Following the Israeli strikes, two missiles were fired from Yemen into Israeli territory, triggering sirens across several regions. The Israeli military reported that its air defence systems engaged the incoming projectiles, but the outcome of the interception is still under review.
In response to the assault, a Houthi military spokesperson said their air defence systems had confronted the Israeli air force with “a large number of domestically-produced surface-to-air missiles.” Houthi-run media confirmed strikes on Hudaydah but provided no immediate details on casualties or damage.
The Israeli military stated the strikes were in direct response to “repeated attacks” by the Houthi group, which has launched missiles at Israel and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
“The targeted ports were being used to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime for terrorist operations against Israel and its allies,” the Israeli Air Force said in a statement.
Hudaydah port, which serves as Yemen’s primary hub for food and humanitarian aid, has now faced multiple Israeli strikes over the past year. Aid agencies have previously warned that attacks on such infrastructure could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where millions remain in urgent need of assistance.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Israeli Defence Minister Gallant issued a stark warning to Tehran and its allies: “The fate of Yemen is the same as the fate of Tehran. Anyone who tries to harm Israel will be harmed. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off.”
There has been no official comment from Iran. The Houthi rebels remain a key Iranian proxy force in the region and have escalated their actions in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, drawing Israel’s military focus beyond its immediate borders.
Chioma Kalu
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