Israel conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday, following missile attacks launched by the Iran-aligned group against Israeli territory in recent days. The strikes mark the latest escalation in a multi-front conflict across the Middle East, as tensions flare between Israel and Iran-backed militias.
The Israeli military confirmed the attacks, saying that dozens of fighter jets targeted power plants and seaports in the Yemeni city of Hodeidah and the nearby port of Ras Issa. The airstrikes resulted in at least four fatalities and 29 injuries, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry. The bombings also caused widespread power outages across Hodeidah, residents reported.
This is the second instance of Israeli military action in Yemen in just over two months. In July, Israeli forces carried out strikes near Hodeidah in retaliation for a Yemeni drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed one person.
In its statement, Israel’s military emphasized that the Houthis have been operating with Iran’s support and cooperation from Iraqi militias, posing a threat to Israeli security and regional stability. “Over the past year, the Houthis have been acting under the direction and funding of Iran to attack Israel, destabilize the region, and disrupt global navigation,” the statement said.
Since the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, the Houthis have launched multiple missile and drone strikes against Israel, framing these actions as solidarity with Palestinians. The group claimed responsibility for firing a ballistic missile on Saturday targeting Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. Israel intercepted the missile, as well as another on Friday.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the Houthis, responded to the Israeli strikes on social media, saying they would not deter the group from supporting Gaza and Lebanon in their fight against Israel.
Iran swiftly condemned the airstrikes, accusing Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Israel should not be allowed to attack countries within the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a coalition of Iran-aligned groups opposing Israel.
The Houthis, part of this Iran-backed alliance, recently mourned the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Nasrallah’s death marks another significant development in the region’s broader conflict as Israel continues to face challenges from multiple fronts.
