Jerusalem / Sanaa, July 7 (V7N) — The Israeli military (IDF) has launched airstrikes on multiple targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including three key ports and a power plant, in response to continued missile attacks. The escalation has prompted the Houthis to fire additional missiles toward Israeli territory.
According to an IDF statement released on Sunday, July 6 local time, Israeli forces targeted the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and As-Salif, as well as the Ras Khatib power plant. The strikes also hit a radar system aboard the Galaxy Leader — a ship seized by the Houthis that remains anchored at Hodeidah port.
No casualties were immediately reported following the strikes, which mark Israel’s first attack on Yemeni territory in a month. Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
In retaliation, the Houthis fired two more missiles toward Israel in the early hours of Monday, July 7 local time. The attacks triggered sirens in Jerusalem, Hebron, and several communities near the Dead Sea. Israel’s emergency services reported no injuries or damage as a result of the missile launches.
The Houthis, who control much of northern and western Yemen, claim their attacks are acts of solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israeli military operations in Gaza. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, the group has launched over 100 missiles toward Israel and conducted more than 100 attacks on commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea’s vital shipping lanes.
While the Houthis temporarily halted their operations following a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel earlier this year, they resumed attacks after a U.S. airstrike in Yemen on March 15 that killed nearly 300 people in subsequent weeks.
The latest exchanges underline the growing regional dimension of the Israel-Gaza conflict, as tensions between Israel and the Houthis continue to fuel instability in the Red Sea and beyond.
Source: Al Jazeera
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