Israel Bombs Yemen Ports and Power Plant as Houthis Fire Missiles

Israel launched airstrikes on key ports and a power plant in Yemen early Monday, escalating tensions after the Houthis fired ballistic missiles toward southern Israel, according to reports.

The Israeli strikes targeted the port city of Hodeidah and a power facility near the Red Sea, causing blackouts in parts of the city. Houthi media outlets reported that at least nine people were killed, including five children, and 13 others were injured in the attacks.

The Houthis confirmed that their forces had fired ballistic and cruise missiles toward the Israeli city of Eilat, located on the Red Sea coast, claiming it was in retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The group stated the missiles were aimed at “vital and sensitive targets” in southern Israel, continuing their declared support for Palestinians.

The Israeli military said its strikes were in response to “repeated attacks by the Houthis,” including drone and missile launches that have threatened commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and posed direct threats to Israel’s southern regions. The military added that its operations were intended to limit the Houthis’ ability to conduct future attacks.

The escalation comes amid broader regional tensions, with the Houthis aligning themselves with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Iraq, all of whom have increased their attacks on Israeli and US interests since October last year. The Houthis have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on shipping routes, prompting the United States and its allies to carry out strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.

Yemen’s Houthi leadership has vowed to continue their military operations as long as Israel continues its operations in Gaza, warning of further strikes on Israeli territory and maritime interests in the Red Sea.

The recent airstrikes have raised concerns about further destabilization in Yemen, where years of war have already created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Aid agencies have warned that attacks on infrastructure could worsen food and fuel shortages in the country.

It remains unclear if the recent strikes will lead to a wider escalation in the region, but analysts note that the attacks highlight the increasingly regional nature of the conflict surrounding Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its tensions with Iran-aligned groups.

Al Jazeera contributed to this report.