Fri May 16 23:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Netanyahu Threatens Escalation After Strikes on Yemeni Ports
**Jerusalem** – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed intensified strikes against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen following Israeli military action targeting the ports of Hodeidah and as-Salif on Friday. The strikes, according to the Israeli military, targeted “terrorist infrastructure” used to transfer weapons, and are a response to Houthi missile attacks towards Israel.
The attacks come just days after the Houthis reached a truce agreement with the United States, in which the Yemeni group agreed to end attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Israel was not a party to the agreement, and the Israeli military claims it intercepted several Houthi missiles aimed at Israeli airspace earlier this week.
“We will not stand idly by and allow the Houthis to harm us,” Netanyahu declared, accusing Iran of being “behind” the group. He promised to strike with “greater force,” targeting the Houthi leadership and infrastructure.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued an even stronger threat, vowing to “hunt down and eliminate” Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi if missile attacks against Israel continue, alluding to the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent years.
Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV confirmed the Israeli strikes on the ports. The extent of damage and potential casualties remain unclear.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks against Israel, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This latest escalation follows months of heightened tensions, with Israel previously striking Yemen’s main airport in Sanaa in May, resulting in casualties.
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reports that the Houthis have launched “at least 34 different projectiles” towards Israel since Israel broke a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in March. She further stated that Israel’s policy will be to strike back for every missile fired.
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