The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a series of major retaliatory strikes on Hodeida, a Yemeni port city, following a missile attack from Iran-backed Houthi rebels that hit Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday.
On Monday, US forces in the Red Sea targeted the Houthis, concentrating on the capital, Sanaa. The Israeli aircraft need to cover substantial distances, requiring in-flight refueling, and they’re also signaling their capabilities.
It has been reported:
This marks the sixth Israeli airstrike on the Houthis since July 2024, amidst over 400 attacks from Iranian proxies on Israel throughout the conflict.
Israel’s last significant strike against the Houthis occurred on January 11, just before Donald Trump took office.
Since then, Israel had hoped Jerusalem could deter Houthi attacks without needing to directly intervene.
However, the recent Houthi strike near Ben Gurion disrupted that assumption.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated on Sunday that Israel might consider direct action against Iran, while President Trump has consistently warned that Iran would ultimately bear responsibility for attacks by the US Navy and Houthi agents targeting international shipping.
