Israeli army strikes Houthi targets at Yemen's Hodeidah port

Defence Minister Israel Katz warns 'fate of Yemen will be the same as Iran'

Hodeidah port after it was attacked by Israel earlier this month. The Israelis launched further strikes on Monday. Photo: Planet Labs

Israel struck Houthi military targets in the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Monday.

The Israeli army said it “struck and dismantled” infrastructure belonging to the rebel group.

“Among the military infrastructure struck were engineering vehicles used to re-establish the port's infrastructure, fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities and force against the state of Israel and vessels in the maritime zone adjacent to the port,” the army said.

“Due to the military use of the port of Hodeidah by the Houthi terror regime, the port has been attacked multiple times in the past.”

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the “fate of Yemen will be the same as Tehran”.

Israel launched an unprecedented surprise bombing campaign against Iran last month, prompting Tehran to respond with drone and missile attacks. Israel's strikes dealt a significant blow to Tehran's air defences, which were repeatedly activated in the capital and across the country.

“The Houthis will pay a heavy price for launching missiles at the state of Israel,” Mr Katz said. “We will continue to act at any time and in any place to defend the state of Israel.”

Houthi media reported “a series of Israeli air raids on the port of Hodeidah”.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have been firing at Israel and attacking shipping lanes. Traffic through the Red Sea, a critical waterway for the world's oil and commodities, has dropped since the militia began attacking ships in November 2023 in what the group said was solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.

Israel has responded with several strikes on Yemen, including attacks on the port city of Hodeidah earlier this month.

The group said late on Friday they had attacked Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile, while the Israeli military said the projectile was intercepted after air raid sirens were triggered in several parts of the country.

Most of the dozens of missiles and drones the Houthis have launched at Israel have been intercepted or fallen short.

On July 6, the Houthis attacked and sunk the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Magic Seas – their first such assault this year.

On July 7, the group carried out a two-day attack on another cargo ship, the Eternity C, sinking it and forcing the crew to abandon ship. Operation Aspides – the EU naval task force in the Red Sea – said three people died, 10 were rescued and others remain missing.

The rebels said they “rescued” an unspecified number of people aboard the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, with the US accusing them of kidnap.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes involving about 20 aircraft against Houthi-controlled ports, a power station and a ship that the group captured in 2023. Israel dropped more than 50 bombs in the attack, its military said.