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The Israel Air Force launched a series of airstrikes on key Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen, including Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif, following a warning issued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The strikes, which targeted critical infrastructure, came after a series of rising tensions in the region, particularly surrounding Houthi activities that Israel views as a threat.
Israeli fighter jets, reportedly on their way to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, initiated the attacks on Sunday, May 5, 2025.
Prior to the military action, Colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, urged individuals in the vicinity of the targeted ports to evacuate for their own safety.
“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 stated.
His warning indicated that those who remained could be at significant risk due to the impending strikes.
Reports from various media outlets indicate that the airstrikes have been intense, with Saudi state-owned news channel Al Arabiya reporting an attack on an unspecified Iranian facility, as well as an assault on the Ras Isa fuel port.
Al Hadath, another Saudi news channel, claimed at least 10 airstrikes had struck the Ras Isa facility, and Yemen’s Houthi Interior Ministry confirmed damage to the port in Hodeidah as well.
These actions come on the heels of last week’s Israeli airstrikes, which were part of a joint operation with the United States in response to a ballistic missile strike near Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport.
Israeli officials have framed these strikes as a necessary countermeasure to Houthi aggression and the broader security threat posed by Iranian-backed groups in the region.
The Houthi forces have remained defiant in the face of these strikes. Yemen’s government has denied reports from Al Hadath suggesting that Israel was responsible for the attacks on the Ras Isa fuel port.
Local authorities in Yemen have yet to release concrete casualty numbers, but the strikes are said to have inflicted substantial damage to key port facilities and surrounding infrastructure.
The situation has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has seen Houthi forces engage in military actions that have drawn in various regional and international powers.
Israel, which has historically viewed the Houthis as an Iranian proxy, has made it clear that it will take preemptive action against any entities that threaten its national security.
As of now, the international community has expressed concern over the escalation of military activities in Yemen, particularly regarding the targeting of critical infrastructure such as ports and fuel facilities.
The humanitarian implications of these airstrikes remain uncertain, with ongoing fears about the potential for further destabilization in a region already grappling with years of conflict.
Israel’s latest strikes represent a significant development in the ongoing regional tensions, with both military and political consequences.
The IDF’s warning to evacuate and the subsequent airstrikes underline the growing urgency in addressing threats posed by Houthi-controlled areas, which Israel and its allies see as crucial to their security interests in the Middle East.
The situation continues to evolve, and it remains unclear whether further airstrikes or retaliatory actions will follow in the coming days.