The strikes hit the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, as
well as the Ras Qantib power plant on the coast.
Hours later, Israel said two missiles were launched from
Yemen. Attempts were made to intercept them, though the results were still
under review.
The Houthi forces said they had fired missiles and drones at
multiple targets in Israel in retaliation for the strikes on Yemen.
Since the start of the war in Gaza in October
2023, the Houthis have fired at ships carrying goods to and from Israel. The
group claims their acts in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Israel said its attacks on Monday also targeted a ship, the
Galaxy Leader, which was seized by the Houthis in late 2023 and held in Ras Isa
port.
"The Houthi terrorist regime's forces installed a radar
system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime
space in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities," the
military said.
The Houthi military spokesperson said the group's air
defences had responded to the Israeli attack with "a large number of
domestically produced surface-to-air missiles".
Israel's military told residents to evacuate the three ports
before it launched its attacks. Residents of Hodeidah told Reuters that the
strikes on the power station had knocked out electricity. There was no
immediate information on casualties.
The Israeli assault comes hours after a ship was
attacked off of Hodeidah and the ship's crew abandoned it as it took on
water. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but security
firm Ambrey said the vessel fit the typical profile of a Houthi target.
