Israel Launches Retaliatory Airstrikes On Yemen’s Hodeidah Port Following Missile Attack Near Tel Aviv Airport; Watch Video

In a major escalation of regional tensions, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah province on Monday, a day after a missile fired by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels landed near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they had targeted “Houthi terrorist infrastructure” in and around the Hodeidah area.

2 Killed, 42 Injured In Strikes

According to health officials aligned with the Houthi militant group, at least two people were killed and 42 others were injured in the strikes, reported IANS. The air raids focused on multiple targets, including Hodeidah port, Al Salakhanah, Al Hawak districts and a cement factory on the city’s outskirts.

Reports, citing local residents, reported that more than 10 airstrikes hit key areas around the port, which is Yemen’s second-largest Red Sea hub after Aden and accounts for roughly 80 per cent of the country’s food imports. The cement factory, which was also struck during a separate wave of four strikes, sustained major damage. Following the bombardment, Houthi forces reportedly sealed off access to both the port and the factory.

It is estimated that approximately 70 per cent of the port’s critical infrastructure, including docks, warehouses, and customs areas, was damaged in the attacks, severely hampering aid and trade operations in an already war-ravaged country.

A senior US official confirmed to Reuters that the Israeli airstrikes were carried out in coordination with Washington, underscoring growing Western concern over escalating Houthi aggression in the region.

The strikes come in response to Sunday’s missile attack on Israeli soil, when a projectile launched by the Houthis struck near the runway of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring several people and causing panic among passengers. The missile reportedly landed on a nearby road, creating a crater and sending smoke billowing into the air.

Netanyahu Promised Retaliation After Tel Aviv Airport Strikes

Though Israel’s missile defence systems have successfully intercepted previous Houthi launches, Sunday’s incident marked a rare breach, raising the stakes. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised firm retaliation. “There will be bangs,” he said, hinting at continued military operations against the Houthis. “We operated against them in the past, and we will operate in the future.”

Since late 2023, the Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen, have escalated their involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict, targeting Israeli territory and Red Sea shipping in a show of solidarity with Gaza. In turn, both Israeli and US forces have responded with military strikes on Houthi positions inside Yemen.

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