Israel launched a coordinated barrage of airstrikes across Houthi-controlled western Yemen late Sunday night, hitting ports, power infrastructure, and a controversial hijacked cargo vessel — a dramatic escalation in the months-long shadow war between Tel Aviv and Tehran-backed proxies.
The strikes, carried out by around 20 Israeli fighter jets, marked one of the most aggressive Israeli military operations outside its borders in years. The targets included three strategic Red Sea ports — Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif — along with the Ras Khatib power station. All are under Houthi control and seen by Israel as key logistical hubs supporting drone and missile attacks.
Just hours after the operation, the Houthis responded with two ballistic missiles fired toward Israel. The missiles were intercepted without causing any casualties, Israeli officials said.
‘Galaxy Leader’ in Crosshairs: From Hostage Crisis to Surveillance Hub
One of the more unusual targets in Sunday night’s attack was the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship originally hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023. Israel’s military says it was turned into a floating spy post.
The ship, which had a multinational crew of 25 — including sailors from the Philippines, Romania, Ukraine, Mexico, and Bulgaria — had been detained for over a year before the Houthis released the hostages in January 2025 under pressure from regional mediators.
But Israel alleges the vessel’s purpose shifted.
The IDF accused the Houthis of mounting a radar system on the ship and using it as a surveillance platform to track vessels sailing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden — regions already teetering under the weight of Houthi maritime harassment.
One Israeli intelligence source described the Galaxy Leader as “essentially a pirate command center floating off the coast.”
That characterization alone was enough to put it on the military’s strike list.
Ports, Power, and the Message to Tehran
The precision strikes weren’t just about hitting Yemeni rebels — they were a message aimed squarely at Iran.
By targeting port infrastructure and energy facilities in Ras Isa and Ras Khatib, Israel is signaling that it will hit logistical arteries supporting what it calls “Tehran’s southern front.” The Red Sea corridor has become a flashpoint since the Gaza war reignited broader regional tensions.
Israeli defense officials said the air raids were in direct response to “a sustained increase” in Houthi missile and drone launches over the last month. The timing is no coincidence. It came just as indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Qatar — talks the Houthis, Hezbollah, and other Iran-linked groups have long opposed.
The coordination of air assets reportedly involved operational centers in southern Israel and remote satellite intelligence monitoring based out of Negev Desert air bases. That level of prep, analysts say, signals the strikes were not impulsive.
Backlash Brewing: Houthi Missiles and More to Come?
Just past dawn Monday, the Houthis responded. Two ballistic missiles were fired toward Israeli territory.
Both were intercepted mid-air, according to Israel’s military, and no injuries were reported. Still, the launch raised alarm bells. One official in Israel’s northern command said the counterattack was “expected, but the concern is what follows.”
Military analysts suggest the real Houthi retaliation may not come immediately — or even from Yemen.
• Hezbollah in southern Lebanon could intensify cross-border rocket fire.
• Shiite militias in Iraq may again target U.S. and Israeli-linked interests.
• Maritime attacks on commercial shipping could spike in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
There’s growing unease that Sunday’s attack could unlock a new phase of escalation, with Iran letting its proxies answer tit-for-tat, inching toward a regional spiral.
Escalating in the Shadows: Timeline of the Houthi-Israel Standoff
The Yemen front in Israel’s multi-front confrontation with Iran and its proxies has become more visible in recent months, but it’s been quietly boiling for years.
Here’s a quick look at key moments:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 2023 | Houthis hijack Galaxy Leader, take 25 hostages |
| Jan 2025 | Hostages released after backchannel diplomacy |
| May–June 2025 | Surge in Houthi drone and missile launches |
| July 6–7, 2025 | Israel strikes ports and infrastructure in western Yemen |
| July 7, 2025 | Houthis fire 2 ballistic missiles at Israel |
Israeli military analysts believe Houthi capabilities — especially in long-range drones — have grown significantly, thanks to Iranian tech transfer. That’s part of why the ports and power station were targeted: they’re suspected supply and assembly points.
Global Watchers, Regional Tensions
The international response has been muted so far, but privately, several diplomatic missions are watching with concern.
One European official in Cairo said, “Israel striking Yemen will pull other actors in whether they want it or not.” American military assets in the Red Sea may also face renewed risk as Houthi forces regroup.
The U.S. has previously intercepted Houthi missiles aimed at Israel using its own assets — a rare act of military coordination that Washington officials haven’t advertised loudly.
But the broader implication is this: any future Houthi-Israel confrontation has the potential to drag global naval forces into the fray.
Meanwhile, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which both rely heavily on the Red Sea for trade, are scrambling behind closed doors to avoid full-blown conflict at their doorstep.
A Gulf diplomat told Bloomberg, “Everyone wants calm. No one has control.”
Netanyahu’s Cabinet Walks a Tightrope
As Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, pressure from within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s far-right coalition to respond forcefully to Houthi attacks has been building.
Some hardline ministers have pushed for preemptive strikes on Iran-backed forces across the region — Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, even Iraq — arguing that containment has failed.
But there’s resistance too. Security officials are reportedly urging caution, worried that multiple active fronts could overextend Israel’s defense posture.
In private briefings, Israel’s military told lawmakers the Yemen strikes were “surgical, intelligence-driven, and aimed at reducing imminent threats.”
Whether that calculation holds — or whether the Houthis escalate further — could define the next few weeks in the Middle East.
