Israel Bombs Yemeni Ports and Power Plant as Houthis Fire Missiles in Retaliation
Tensions in the Middle East have flared once again as Israel bombs three Yemeni ports and a power plant in areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group. In response, the Houthis fired fresh missiles towards Israeli territory, raising fears of wider regional escalation.
On Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed that it struck the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and as-Salif along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The strikes also targeted the Ras Kathib power plant, which residents say has now been knocked out of service, plunging the city of Hodeidah into darkness.
Shortly after the attacks, the Houthis fired two missiles towards Israel. Israel’s military reported that attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of those interceptions were still being reviewed. Fortunately, no casualties or missile impacts have been reported so far, according to Israel’s ambulance services.
Background: War in Gaza and Regional Fallout
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthi group has stepped up attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, claiming its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Houthi strikes — mostly missile and drone launches — have targeted ships and Israeli territory, though most have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has retaliated with repeated airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure inside Yemen.
On Monday, the Israeli military revealed it also targeted the Galaxy Leader ship at Ras Isa port. The ship, which was seized by the Houthis in late 2023, had been converted into a makeshift radar station by Houthi fighters to monitor vessels in international waters.
“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities,” the Israeli military stated.
Houthi Response: New Missiles and Air Defences
Following the attacks, a Houthi military spokesperson said that the group’s air defences attempted to repel the Israeli airstrikes using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles.
Residents speaking to Reuters described how the Israeli airstrikes knocked the main power station in Hodeidah offline, leaving the port city without electricity. However, there have been no immediate reports of casualties so far.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV confirmed that Israel issued evacuation warnings before launching multiple strikes on the ports, intensifying the humanitarian impact on civilians already caught in Yemen’s long-running conflict.
Red Sea Tensions: Global Trade at Risk
The attack comes just hours after a separate assault on a ship off the coast of Hodeidah. The vessel’s crew abandoned the ship as it took on water. Although no one has officially claimed responsibility, maritime security firm Ambrey said the vessel fits the typical target profile of the Houthis, who have repeatedly threatened global shipping in the Red Sea.
Iran’s Allies Face Pressure
The strikes on Yemen are part of Israel’s broader campaign to weaken Iran’s regional allies. While groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza have suffered significant losses, the Houthis and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq remain operational.
Under the leadership of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis have evolved from a local militia into a formidable force, armed with ballistic missiles and drones that Western and Saudi intelligence believe come from Iran — an allegation that Tehran denies.
As the Gaza war drags on, the risk of a larger regional conflict continues to grow, with shipping routes, energy supplies, and civilian lives hanging in the balance.
