Israel Launches Strikes on Houthi-Controlled Targets in Yemen Amid Rising Tensions

Sat Dec 20 2025 23:35:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to continued missile threats, Israel has targeted Houthi ports and a hijacked cargo ship in Yemen, escalating military actions in the region.

The Israeli military has executed air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including key ports and a hijacked cargo ship, following repeated missile attacks from the group. In retaliation, the Houthis claimed to have launched missiles towards Israel, suggesting a concerning escalation in the regional conflict.

The Israeli military has carried out air strikes against Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen as tensions escalate due to ongoing missile and drone attacks from the Iran-backed group. Key targets of the strikes included the Red Sea ports of Hudaydah, Ras Issa, and al-Salif, alongside a power station and the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was reportedly hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023 for maritime monitoring purposes.

In response, the Houthis’ military spokesman declared that the group successfully intercepted the Israeli air strikes, claiming a lack of casualties from the attacks. Following the Israeli operation, missiles were launched from Yemen toward Israel, activating air raid sirens in various areas within the occupied West Bank and southern regions of Israel, as the military evaluated interceptions.

The Israeli military characterized its actions as retaliation against the "Houthi terrorist regime," pointing out that the targeted ports were allegedly used for arms transfers from Iran, with the Galaxy Leader serving as a radar platform for facilitating terrorist operations against international shipping. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the Houthis would "continue to pay a heavy price for their actions," reiterating a stance that any threat towards Israel would be met with force.

Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesman, responded to the strikes, stating that their forces executed a military operation utilizing 11 missiles and drones targeting critical sites in Israel, pledging readiness for ongoing confrontations. The Houthis have been active in escalating regional hostilities since Israel's conflict with Hamas intensified.

Since they took control of much of northwestern Yemen in 2014, the Houthis have frequently launched attacks aligning with their stance of solidarity towards the Palestinian cause, having recently targeted both commercial ships and Israel directly. The ongoing conflict has seen attacks on various vessels, with reports of casualties among crew members.

Despite a ceasefire agreement with the US in May 2025, the Houthis clarified that the pact did not halt their operations against Israel, as Israel has continued its retaliatory strikes. An attack from Houthi forces also targeted a Liberian-flagged carrier in the Red Sea, indicating the region's instability remains a pressing concern as maritime security operations are challenged by ongoing military engagements.