Mon May 05 19:28:40 UTC 2025: ## Israel Launches Strikes in Yemen After Houthi Missile Attack Near Airport
**TEL AVIV/HODEIDAH** – Israel launched air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and a cement factory on Monday, in retaliation for a Houthi missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport the previous day. The Israeli military claimed the targeted sites supported Houthi operations against Israel, stating the port facilitates the transfer of Iranian weapons and the factory is used for building military infrastructure.
The strikes, reportedly involving approximately 30 Israeli warplanes, injured at least 21 people according to Houthi-run health ministry spokesman Anees al-Asbahi. Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run news outlet, reported that six strikes hit the port and blamed both Israel and the United States for the attack.
While a senior US official cited by Axios confirmed coordination between Israel and the US, a US defense source denied direct participation in the strikes, although they did not rule out the provision of non-lethal support. This marks an escalation in Israeli involvement in Yemen, following previous strikes in December.
Sunday’s Houthi missile attack, the first to evade Israeli interception since November 2023, prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow retaliation. The Houthis launched the attack in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza and to express solidarity with Palestinians. They have launched over 100 drone and missile attacks targeting vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea since November 2023, resuming after a ceasefire ended in March. The Monday strikes, overseen by Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, represent a significant escalation of the conflict, marking what Al Jazeera described as a “new phase” in Israeli attacks on Yemen.
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