ALBAWABA- Israel launched a series of massive airstrikes on Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Monday, in response to a missile attack by the Houthis that struck near Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel a day earlier.
According to the Israeli army, the strikes targeted the Hodeida port, a concrete factory east of the city, and cargo unloading docks—critical infrastructure serving more than 25 million Yemenis in Houthi-controlled areas.
An Israeli official confirmed to AFP that Israeli warplanes carried out the strikes. A U.S. defense official told Al Arabiya English that the United States did not participate in these operations.
However, it reportedly carried out separate air raids on Yemen’s capital, Sana'a, just hours earlier. Houthi sources said 16 people were wounded in those U.S. strikes.
The escalation follows a dramatic development on Sunday, when the Houthis claimed responsibility for firing a “hypersonic ballistic missile” that landed within the perimeter of Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
The impact left a large crater near a parking lot, injured six people, and disrupted flight operations. The Houthis warned they would continue targeting Israeli airports to impose a comprehensive air blockade on the country.
Houthi-run media also reported additional U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa and seven more in the northern governorate of al-Jawf.
Despite mounting international concerns, the Houthis have intensified their attacks against Israel and Red Sea shipping since the start of the Gaza war, framing their campaign as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the missile attack and pledged a firm response against both the Houthis and their primary backer, Iran. In turn, Tehran denied any involvement, stating the attack was an “independent decision” by the Yemeni group.
