Houthi Rebels Retaliate with Missile Fire After Israeli Airstrikes Hit Key Yemeni Ports Following Attack on Liberian-Flagged Ship
DUBAI — In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Red Sea, Israel launched a series of airstrikes early Monday targeting Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure in Yemen, prompting retaliatory missile fire from the rebel group. The strikes followed a suspected Houthi attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, which forced the crew to abandon the vessel after it caught fire.
The Israeli military confirmed it had struck strategic locations including the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. Israel also claimed to have targeted the Galaxy Leader, a ship seized by Houthi forces in late 2023. The vessel, linked to an Israeli billionaire, had allegedly been converted into a tracking platform using radar systems to aid Houthi maritime operations.
“These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,” the Israeli military stated.
In response, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that their air defenses “effectively confronted” the Israeli strike, though no evidence was presented. The group retaliated with a missile strike aimed at Israel. According to Israeli sources, a missile made impact despite attempted interception, though no injuries were reported.
Red Sea Flashpoint: Magic Seas Incident
The latest escalation follows Sunday’s attack on the Magic Seas, a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier heading north toward Egypt’s Suez Canal. The vessel was reportedly ambushed by eight skiffs southwest of Hodeida, and later hit by bomb-laden drone boats. British and private maritime security sources confirmed the ship took on water and the crew was forced to abandon it. They were later rescued by a nearby vessel.
Security firm Ambrey reported that two drone boats struck the ship while two others were destroyed by onboard armed guards. The incident marks a potential shift in tactics by the Houthis, with increasing use of unmanned drone boats.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani, from the internationally recognized exiled government, squarely blamed the Houthis. “This attack once again proves the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen to undermine regional and global stability,” he said.
Houthi Naval Campaign Resurfaces
The Houthi rebels have been actively targeting commercial and military vessels since November 2023 in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Between late 2023 and early 2025, over 100 vessels have been targeted by Houthi missiles and drones, resulting in two ships sunk and four sailors killed. Though a self-imposed pause in attacks held for several weeks, renewed aggression followed U.S. airstrikes on Houthi positions in March.
The group’s state-affiliated Al-Masirah news channel acknowledged the latest Magic Seas incident but provided no further detail. Experts believe the vessel fit the Houthis’ usual target profile, given its flag, ownership, and route.
The renewed Red Sea crisis comes amid a delicate moment in the broader Middle East. A possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war remains uncertain, and Iran’s nuclear negotiations are at a crossroads following American airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also en route to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
With international shipping already disrupted and military tensions escalating, the Red Sea once again emerges as a volatile flashpoint with global economic and security implications.