The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its naval forces launched missile strikes on Hodeidah port controlled by the Houthi rebels on Tuesday in response to recent missile and drone attacks. The Israeli defense minister warned that if the Houthis continue to fire, a naval and aerial blockade will be imposed.
This marks the first time in this round of conflict that the Israeli military has used naval force to target the Houthis, in response to recent missile and drone attacks by the group against Israel.
According to the IDF, the naval missile boats carried out precise strikes on the infrastructure of Hodeidah port this morning, targeting military facilities used by the Houthi rebels.
The operation was aimed at “inflicting damage on the military uses of the port”. Israel stated that the port has been used for terrorist activities since last year, making it one of the targets.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz warned that if the Houthi rebels continue to launch weapons at Israel, they will face a strong response, possibly including maritime and aerial blockades.
“We have warned the Houthi terrorist organization that if they continue to launch weapons at Israel, they will face a strong response and maritime and aerial blockades,” he wrote on social media platform X.
“We have taken action today, and will continue to do so in the future,” he emphasized.
Israel stated that this strike was in response to recent missile and drone attacks by the Houthis against Israel.
Since May 28, the Houthi rebels have launched 7 ballistic missiles and at least 1 drone towards Israel, with one missile failing to reach Israeli territory last night.
Israel also stated that prior to the operation, warnings were issued online on Monday night urging Yemeni civilians to evacuate the three ports under Houthi control – Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and al-Salif.
The Houthi rebels confirmed the attack on Hodeidah through their satellite news channel, Al-Masirah TV, stating that the Israeli targets were the port docks, but did not provide further details.
Furthermore, Hodeidah port has been a vital humanitarian lifeline for millions of people in Yemen since the outbreak of the civil war. Over the years, a large amount of food and medical aid has been imported into the Houthi-controlled areas through this port. While the attack targeted military facilities, it has raised concerns in the international community about potential disruptions to the flow of humanitarian supplies.
From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthi rebels launched over a hundred missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea shipping routes, resulting in at least two sunken merchant ships and four crew members dead, severely impacting global trade transport.