Israel Launches Airstrikes on Yemen’s Ports as Gaza War Expands Regionally
In response to escalating Houthi missile attacks, Israel targets key Red Sea ports in Yemen, vowing broader operations while Ansar Allah pledges continued retaliation in support of Gaza.
Watan-On Friday evening, the Israeli Air Force launched “intense” airstrikes on Yemen—marking the eighth Israeli attack on the country since the Gaza war began and the third since the resumption of Israeli operations in the besieged Strip.
The airstrikes targeted Yemen’s Red Sea ports of Hudaydah (for the sixth time) and Salif (for the second time), both located in areas under the control of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) in western Yemen.
Media outlets affiliated with the Houthis confirmed the “Israeli aggression” on both ports, while Israeli Channel 12 also reported the strikes, citing an Israeli security source who said:
“Two ports, Hudaydah and Salif, were attacked using dozens of bombs and more than 10 aircraft.”
The Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli official linking the airstrikes to continued Houthi missile launches targeting Israel, while Israeli broadcaster KAN said the objective was to “impose a blockade on the Houthis.”
Army Radio cited a military source stating:
“Israel is working to enforce a tight naval blockade on the Houthis by destroying their ports.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attacks, saying:“We bombed two Houthi ports, and this is only the beginning… We will not stand idly by in the face of Houthi aggression.”
Houthis Vow Escalation and Support for Gaza
In response, Ansar Allah spokesperson Nasreddin Amer declared:
“Our operations in support of Gaza will not stop, and the blockade on Zionist ships will remain in place.”
He added:“We will continue military pressure to impose an aerial blockade on Israeli airports and expand our operations in retaliation for the massacres in Gaza and the attacks on Yemeni ports.”
On Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Ansar Allah, said that nine operations had been conducted that week using ballistic and hypersonic missiles and drones, including strikes on Ben Gurion Airport aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Israel.
This comes after a Yemeni hypersonic missile reached the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, breaching Israeli air defenses. The Houthis have pledged to maintain both air and maritime blockades and have issued warnings to international airlines.
Since October 2023, Ansar Allah has carried out frequent missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets in solidarity with Gaza, where Israel has waged a war resulting in catastrophic civilian losses.
غارات إسرائيلية تستهدف عددا من الموانئ في اليمن#الجزيرة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/YWNmtbVwUf
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 16, 2025
Demonstrations Across Yemen for Gaza
In parallel, massive pro-Gaza protests erupted Friday across dozens of Yemeni cities in areas controlled by Ansar Allah, including Sana’a, Hudaydah, Saada, Ibb, Taiz, Dhamar, and more.
Tens of thousands gathered in Sana’a’s Al-Sabeen Square, waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags. According to the Houthi-run SABA News Agency, the demonstration was held under the slogan:
“With Gaza: Confronting Genocide and Starvation.”
Chants included:
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“No to normalization and starvation wars!”
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“We will strike again in Jaffa and Lod Airport!”
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“Gaza’s defenders are a miracle of resistance!”
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“A million salutes to Gaza’s fighters and Al-Qassam Brigades!”
The demonstrators emphasized unwavering Yemeni support for Palestine and warned that “the Nakba will not repeat—it will end with the fall of the oppressive Zionist entity.”
Continued Military Exchange Amid Failed Diplomacy
On Friday, the Israeli military launched further air raids in Yemen following Houthi announcements of three recent missile strikes on Ben Gurion Airport, the latest being on Thursday.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed a successful ballistic strike, saying it caused airport closures and panic:
“Our forces hit the target with a hypersonic missile, causing millions of settlers to flee to shelters.”
Meanwhile, Israeli media confirmed sirens and evacuations, though military sources claimed the projectile was intercepted.
The military escalation coincides with stalled ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar and an ongoing U.S. diplomatic tour by President Trump, who recently stated that “Palestinians in Gaza deserve a better future.”
Despite such statements, over 260 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes during the first three days of Trump’s tour—more than triple the previous death toll, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
This regional spiral reflects Gaza’s transformation into a broader arena of confrontation, as actors like the Houthis escalate their military campaigns in direct retaliation for Israel’s expanding war, and regional solidarity movements intensify their public demonstrations.
