DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Early Thursday, a wave of heavy Israeli airstrikes rocked Yemen’s capital, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, as well as a port city. These military actions followed a missile launched by the Houthis that targeted central Israel.
These recent airstrikes mark a significant escalation in Israel’s efforts against the Iranian-aligned Houthi forces, who have not previously faced the same intensity of military operations that have been directed toward the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance.”
On another front, tensions have risen between Israel and Iran, and Syria’s government continues to weaken amid ongoing rebellion, affecting Iran’s web of allied proxy forces throughout the region.
The Israeli strikes pose the risk of igniting further clashes with the Houthis, whose attacks along the Red Sea have considerably disrupted international shipping routes. The Houthi-run al-Masirah satellite network reported that some airstrikes targeted power facilities in the capital and the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea, claiming casualties occurred but providing no further details.
An Israeli military communiqué did not clarify the exact targets of the operations. However, it stated that the locations hit were utilized by Houthi forces for military functions, asserting that the strikes would undermine the “Houthi terrorist regime” by stopping their capacity to exploit these sites for offensive purposes, including the smuggling of Iranian arms into the region.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, indicated that the airstrikes affected energy and port infrastructure, which, according to him, the rebels had been employing in ways that bolstered their military efforts. He emphasized that Israel would not hesitate to take necessary actions to safeguard itself and its citizens from ongoing Houthi assaults.
The port city of Hodeida, located approximately 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Sanaa, serves as a crucial entry point for food supplies in Yemen, a nation embroiled in a prolonged conflict for the past decade. There are also longstanding concerns regarding the transfer of Iranian weaponry through this port.
The Israeli military’s airstrikes followed an announcement that its air force intercepted a missile fired from Yemen prior to its entry into Israeli territory. This action triggered rocket and missile alarms in various regions, including near Tel Aviv, along with a loud explosion overhead. The Houthis refrained from immediately claiming responsibility for this missile attack but mentioned that a significant military declaration would be forthcoming, aligning with their usual practice following such operations.
Earlier in July, Israel targeted Hodeida and its oil assets in retaliatory strikes after a Houthi drone attack resulted in one casualty and ten injuries in Tel Aviv. Additionally, U.S. forces have engaged in a series of military actions against the Houthis over the past year in response to their threats to maritime operations in the Red Sea. Just this past Monday, the U.S. military’s Central Command reported striking a significant Houthi command facility in Sanaa, previously recognized as the al-Ardi complex, which was linked to the Yemeni government’s Defense Ministry. Notably, Thursday’s airstrikes appear to have been conducted solely by Israel.
Since the recent outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted around 100 commercial vessels with drones and missiles. This escalation followed Hamas’s surprise attack against Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, with 250 more taken hostage. The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly led to the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The Houthis have reportedly captured one ship and sunk two others during their campaign, which has also seen the deaths of four sailors. Other missile and drone attempts have been intercepted by U.S. and European-led coalition forces in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their intended targets, which included Western military vessels.
The rebels state that their targets are vessels connected to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. in an effort to pressure an end to Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza. However, a significant number of the attacked ships have limited, if any, ties to the conflict, with some carrying cargo destined for Iran.
Amidst this turmoil, the Houthis have remained locked in a standoff with a Saudi-led coalition in a broader Yemeni conflict that has claimed over 150,000 lives, including many civilians. This long-standing conflict has also given rise to one of the world’s most alarming humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands more believed to have perished as a result.
