Israel Carries Out Airstrikes on Houthi Held Yemeni Ports After Red Sea Attack
In response to a maritime assault, Israeli jets targeted key facilities in Yemen’s west as regional tensions boil over.
Israeli Air Force F-15I Ra'am aircrafts /Image Credit: Wikimedia
Late on July 6 and into the early hours of July 7, the Israeli Air Force launched a series of strikes in Yemen, focusing on ports and energy infrastructure controlled by Houthi militants. This was a direct response to an incident in the Red Sea, where a Greek owned, Liberian flagged cargo ship came under attack, reportedly by the Houthis using drones and explosive boats. The crew of the vessel, Magic Seas, was forced to abandon ship.
According to Israeli military officials, about 20 fighter jets dropped more than 50 munitions on strategic southern coastal targets. These included the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Qantib power plant. They even struck the Galaxy Leader vessel, which had been hijacked by the Houthis in late 2023 and repurposed with radar equipment.
Israel has framed the strikes as a defensive move. The military says these sites were key to the transfer of Iranian supplied weapons used in missile and drone attacks against both Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Following the strikes, Houthi forces launched two missiles toward Israel. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem and Hebron, but no injuries were reported.
This latest action marks Israel’s first direct strike in Yemen in almost a month, showing a sharp escalation in regional tensions. The Houthis have been intermittently targeting both Israel and global maritime traffic since the conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. While a ceasefire between the Houthis and the United States was reached in May, Israel was not part of that deal.
Israel’s Defense Minister has made it clear that the current strikes are part of a broader policy that says any threat, no matter how distant, will be met with force. The Houthis, for their part, have vowed to keep supporting Gaza and remain defiant in the face of Israeli action.
While the Israeli government insists these moves are necessary to protect its citizens and secure global trade routes, the fallout may further inflame an already tense region. With ceasefire talks in Gaza stuck and international pressure mounting on Iran's nuclear program, the broader consequences of this cross border retaliation may just be starting to show.
Source:- apnnews (AP)
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