Israel says it struck Houthi ports and seized cargo ship in Yemen

The Israeli army says it has carried out air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in response to repeated missile and drone assaults on Israel.

The army stated the targets have been the Purple Sea ports of Hudaydah, Ras Issa and al-Salif, a close-by energy station, and the cargo ship Galaxy Chief. The ship, hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023, was getting used to watch worldwide transport, based on the army.

The Houthis’ army spokesman stated the Iran-backed group’s air defences “efficiently” confronted the Israeli assault. There have been no studies of any casualties.

Following the strikes, two missiles have been launched from Yemen in direction of Israel, based on the Israeli army.

Sirens have been triggered in a number of areas of the occupied West Financial institution and southern Israel. The army stated it was reviewing its try and intercept the missiles.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that the strikes on Sunday night time hit the ports in addition to the Ras Kanatib energy station, north of Hudaydah, however it offered no additional particulars on harm or casualties.

The Israeli army stated about 20 fighter jets carried out the operation “in response to the repeated assaults by the Houthi terrorist regime towards the State of Israel, its civilians, and civilian infrastructure, together with the launching of UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles towards Israeli territory”.

It alleged that the ports have been used to switch weapons from Iran and that Houthi forces had put in a radar system on the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Chief “to trace vessels within the worldwide maritime enviornment to facilitate additional terrorist actions”.

The Israeli army stated the Ras Kanatib energy plant, which provides electrical energy to the close by cities of Ibb and Taizz, was used to energy Houthi army operations.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the Houthis “will proceed to pay a heavy value for his or her actions”.

“The destiny of Yemen is similar because the destiny of Tehran. Anybody who tries to hurt Israel will likely be harmed, and anybody who raises a hand towards Israel could have their hand reduce off,” he stated in a publish on X.

Houthi army spokesman Yahya Sarea stated in a press release on Monday that the group’s air defences “succeeded in confronting the Zionist aggression towards our nation and thwarting its plan to focus on plenty of Yemeni cities”.

“In retaliation to this aggression, and in continuation of triumphing for the oppressed Palestinian folks, the missile and UAV forces carried out a joint army operation utilizing 11 missiles and drones,” he added, figuring out the targets as Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, the ports of Ashdod and Eilat, and an influence station in Ashkelon.

Sarea additionally declared that the Houthis have been “totally ready for a sustained and extended confrontation” with Israel.

The Houthis have managed a lot of north-western Yemen since 2014, after they ousted the internationally-recognised authorities from the capital, Sanaa, and sparked a devastating civil warfare.

For the reason that begin of the warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have frequently launched missiles at Israel and attacked industrial ships within the Purple Sea and Gulf of Aden, saying they’re appearing in solidarity with the Palestinians.

They’ve thus far sunk two vessels, seized a 3rd – the Galaxy Star – and killed 4 crew members. The 25-strong crew of Galaxy Chief have been launched in January 2025.

In Could, the Houthis agreed a ceasefire cope with the US following seven weeks of intensified US strikes on Yemen in response to the assaults on worldwide transport.

Nonetheless, the group stated the settlement didn’t embrace an finish to assaults on Israel, which has performed a number of rounds of retaliatory strikes on Yemen.

In Could, Israeli navy ships struck targets in Hudaydah, which is the principle entry level for meals and different humanitarian assist for tens of millions of Yemenis.

Additionally on Sunday, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated bulk provider Magic Seas got here below assault by Houthi forces within the Purple Sea.

The UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) company stated the ship was 51 nautical miles (94km) south of Hudaydah when it hit by gunfire and self-propelled grenades fired from a number of small boats. Armed safety groups on board returned fireplace, it added.

Maritime safety agency Ambrey stated the Magic Seas was later additionally focused with 4 unmanned floor automobiles, or sea drones, and missiles. Two of the drones hit the port facet of the vessel, damaging it cargo and inflicting a fireplace, it added.

The UKMTO stated the crew have been secure after being rescued by a passing service provider vessel.

Sarea stated on Monday afternoon that the Houthis had focused the Magic Seas with sea drones and missiles as a result of it “belongs to an organization that violated the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine”, with out offering any additional particulars.

He added that the vessel was now liable to sinking on account of a direct leak, and that the Houthis had “allowed the crew to securely disembark”.