Tel Aviv / Sanaa( The COW News Digital)Israel has launched a series of airstrikes targeting key port cities in Yemen, focusing on areas controlled by the Houthi rebel group. According to international media reports, the strikes hit strategic infrastructure along the Red Sea, escalating tensions in the already fragile Middle East region.
The Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed the operation, stating that the airstrikes specifically targeted the ports of Al-Hudaydah, As-Salif, and Ras Issa—locations that Israel claims are being used by the Houthi-led Ansar Allah movement to launch attacks on Israeli interests and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
In addition to the port facilities, Israeli forces also bombed the Ras Qutb power plant, further intensifying fears of a broader humanitarian crisis in the Houthi-controlled western provinces of Yemen.
The strikes come just one day after the Israeli military issued public warnings urging civilians in the vicinity of the targeted ports to evacuate immediately. The statement cited imminent threats and the presence of “terrorist infrastructure” in the region.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned political and military group, have not officially responded to the attack, but local Yemeni sources report significant damage to port installations and nearby civilian infrastructure. Casualty figures remain unclear due to restricted media access in the conflict zone.
The Israeli government claims that the targeted regions are “under full Houthi control” and alleges that these ports have been utilized to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, including suspected attacks on commercial vessels and potential drone operations against Israel.
The international community has expressed concern over the growing hostilities. Human rights organizations warn that bombing Yemen’s already vulnerable civilian infrastructure, particularly power plants and port facilities, could severely worsen the humanitarian crisis. Yemen is still recovering from years of war and economic collapse, with millions relying on imports for food and medicine.
The airstrikes mark a significant expansion of Israel’s military engagement beyond its traditional theater of conflict, raising questions about regional spillover and the risk of a broader confrontation involving Iran and other regional players.
With tensions at a boiling point and strategic waters like the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at stake, global powers are urging restraint on all sides to avoid a full-scale regional escalation.
