In first, Israeli Navy attacks Houthi targets in Yemen

The Israeli military launched a naval strike on Yemen early Tuesday, targeting military infrastructure at the port of Hudaydah controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, in what it said was the first such operation of the war carried out by missile boats. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the strike came in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory. “The strikes were conducted following the aggression of the Houthi terrorist regime toward the State of Israel, including the launch of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs toward Israeli territory and its citizens,” the IDF said. 

The military said it aimed to stop the use of the port for military purposes, calling it “a hub for the transfer of weapons” and “a further example of the Houthi terrorist regime’s cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure to advance terrorist activities.”“The port, which has been previously targeted by Israel over the past year, continues to serve terrorist purposes,” the IDF said. It added that the operation was preceded by “advanced warnings... to mitigate the risk of harm to uninvolved civilians in the area.”

A senior Houthi official, Nasr al-Din Amer, responded to the attack in a post on X. He confirmed the strike was carried out by Israeli naval forces and involved two missiles that hit the pier at Hudaydah. Amer said the operation came after Houthi political chief Mahdi al-Mashat warned that any renewed Israeli airstrikes would be countered by Yemen’s air defenses.  (Ed note: Should we start thinking about Jeremiah 49:23 in coming sea wars?)     (Read More)