Israel and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels engaged in a missile exchange on Monday, marking a significant escalation in the conflict in the Red Sea.
Israeli forces launched strikes on Houthi ports in Yemen, responding to a suspected attack on a Liberian-flagged ship earlier in the week. The vessel was targeted with explosives and small arms fire, causing it to take on water and forcing the crew to abandon ship. The Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israel’s military issued a warning before launching its strikes, which targeted Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif ports. The Israeli military stated that these ports are used by the Houth, terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies.
The Houthis responded in kind when Israeli missiles started falling, but Israel reported no casualties from the attack.
The Israeli attack also targeted the Galaxy Leader, a vessel seized by the Houthis in 2023. The IDF said the ship had been “fitted with a radar system to track international vessels for terror operations.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes if Houthi aggression continues in the Red Sea or elsewhere.