"Operation Black Flag": Israel Launches Unprecedented Multi-Port Attack on Yemen
Explosions reported in Hudaydah and Ras Issa as Israel lunches strikes in Yemen for the first time since an assassination attempt on the Houthi military chief.
TwitterThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a wave of airstrikes shortly before midnight Sunday, targeting Houthi-controlled seaports in Yemen. The Israeli Air Force is using powerful bombs in its strikes dropping 56 munitions, and striking key targets including a central generator compound at the Port of As-Salif and fuel offloading infrastructure at Ras Issa.
Fighter jets struck facilities in Ras Issa, Hudaydah, and As-Salif, following a rare and urgent evacuation warning issued by the IDF in Arabic earlier in the evening.
According to reports from Yemen, explosions were heard in Hudaydah and Ras Issa, suggesting that Israeli warplanes hit key logistical and military assets at those locations. The IDF had warned civilians to evacuate the ports due to ongoing "military activity" in the area.
The IDF Spokesperson Briefed:
"The IDF carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure operated by the Houthi terror regime in the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Issa, As-Salif, and at the Ras Kantib power station.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets, guided by intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy, struck and destroyed key components of the Houthi terror infrastructure. Among the targets were operational assets at the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Issa, and As-Salif.
These ports are being used by the Houthi terror regime as conduits for transferring Iranian-supplied weapons used to execute terror operations against the State of Israel and its allies.
The strikes come in response to ongoing attacks by the Houthi terror regime targeting Israel, its citizens, and civilian infrastructure - including the launch of UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles directed at Israeli territory.
The Houthi regime exploits maritime zones to project power and conduct terror operations against commercial shipping and global trade routes. The targets struck illustrate the military use of civilian infrastructure by the Houthi terror regime for operational purposes.
Among the targets hit at the Ras Issa port was the “GALAXY LEADER” commercial vessel, seized by the Houthis in November 2023. Houthi forces had installed a radar system on the ship and were using it to monitor international maritime traffic in support of their operations.
Additionally, the Ras Kantib power station was struck. This facility served as a major electricity hub for Houthi military activity, again highlighting the group’s exploitation of civilian assets for terror-related purposes.
The IDF remains determined to continue striking forcefully against any threat to Israeli civilians, regardless of distance."
Resurgence of Houthi Missile Attacks
Since the ceasefire with Iran came into effect nearly two weeks ago, the Houthis have renewed their missile campaign against Israel. The most recent attack occurred last night, prompting air raid sirens in the Dead Sea region and Judean Desert. The IDF confirmed the missile was intercepted, and no injuries or damage were reported.
A previous launch took place last Tuesday at 8:27 PM, triggering alerts across central Israel, including Jerusalem and parts of the Negev. That missile was also intercepted, and airspace over Israel was briefly closed before normal operations resumed.
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to that attack by warning:
"Yemen is no different than Tehran. After striking the head of the snake in Iran, we will hit the Houthis as well. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel - that hand will be severed."
Ongoing Escalation
The IDF has thwarted multiple Houthi missile attempts in recent weeks. A launch the prior Saturday morning at 7:10 AM saw rockets fired toward Be’er Sheva, Dimona, Arad, and other southern areas. That missile was intercepted at 7:25 AM, and no casualties were reported.
Two days earlier, the Houthis attempted another strike - part of a pattern of Thursday night launches seen before Israel’s recent offensive in Iran (Operation “Lion’s Mane”). That missile fell short and did not trigger sirens, marking the first launch since the ceasefire with Tehran was enacted on June 24.
The renewed strikes in Yemen signal that Israel views the Houthi threat as far from contained, despite temporary regional lulls. With al-Ghamari's fate still uncertain and rocket fire resuming, military pressure on Houthi infrastructure appears set to escalate.