The IDF struck the Hodeidah and Al-Salif ports in Yemen on Friday, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.
The military said that these ports are used for transferring weapons and are “another example of the cynical use and exploitation of civilian infrastructure by the Houthi terrorist regime to advance terrorism.”
These strikes will likely put these ports out of operational use for a month, the IDF said in a press briefing following the strikes. The targets that were hit were more international and more central for the Houthis than what the US hit when it was striking Houthi targets in Yemen.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the military “severely damaged” the ports it attacked in Yemen on X/Twitter shortly after the strikes.
צה”ל תקף כעת ופגע קשות בנמלים בתימן הנמצאים בשליטת ארגון הטרור החות׳י.גם שדה התעופה בצנעא עדיין הרוס.כמו שאמרנו: אם החות׳ים ימשיכו לירות טילים לעבר מדינת ישראל הם יספגו מכות כואבות – ונפגע גם בראשי הטרור כמו שעשינו לדף והסינווארים בעזה, לנסראללה בביירות ולהנייה בטהרן, נצוד… pic.twitter.com/MBGIVupkYC
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 16, 2025
“As we said: If the Houthis continue to fire missiles toward the State of Israel, they will suffer painful blows — and we will also target terror leaders as we have done with Deif and Sinwar in Gaza, Nasrallah in Beirut, and Haniyeh in Tehran. We will hunt down and eliminate Abd al-Malik al-Houthi in Yemen as well.”
“We will defend ourselves by our own strength against any enemy,” Katz concluded.
The IDF said it conducted the strikes after numerous prior warnings. “Given the Houthis’ use of these ports for terrorist purposes, the IDF again warns anyone present at the ports to evacuate and stay clear of the area,” the IDF added. “Any hostile activity in these ports will continue to be prevented.”
Footage captures the moment Israeli airstrikes struck Hodeidah port in western Yemen, escalating regional tensions. pic.twitter.com/TwJZfCZ3It
— Geopoliti Monitor (@GeopolitixM) May 16, 2025
“The IDF is determined to continue operating and striking forcefully against anyone who poses a threat to the residents of the State of Israel, at any distance necessary,” the military concluded.
“Our pilots have successfully struck two Houthi terrorist ports again, and this is just the beginning,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “There will be more to come. We are not willing to sit idly by and allow the Houthis to harm us. We will strike them much harder, including their leadership and all the infrastructure that enables them to harm us.”
“The one behind them, that provides them support, guidance, and approval, is Iran. The Houthis will pay a very heavy price, and we will defend ourselves by all means necessary to ensure the security of the State of Israel,” the prime minister concluded.
Israel reportedly waited for US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East to conclude before attacking Yemen, a security source told Army Radio.
Israel is allegedly seeking to impose a naval blockade on the Houthis, Sky News in Arabic reported, citing an Israeli source.
Not the first time the IAF struck at the Yemeni ports
The Israeli air force reportedly conducted airstrikes at the same three Houthi-controlled Yemen ports on Sunday following a warning from the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, that locals should evacuate until further notice.
“Due to the terrorist Houthi regime’s use of seaports for its terrorist activities, we urge all those present at these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your own safety until further notice,” Adraee said before the strikes began.
Over the last week, the Houthis have fired four missiles, with one falling short and landing in Saudi Arabia. The IDF intercepted all of the remaining ones.
This is a developing story.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
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