Israel confirmed it attacked Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday evening, striking the port of Hodeidah and surrounding areas – approximately 1,243 miles from Israeli territory. The wave of strikes, dubbed "Operation Port City," was carried out by about 20 aircraft that dropped 50 munitions. Simultaneously, reports emerged of Israeli military strikes deep inside Lebanon and in Damascus.
Local residents told Reuters that more than 10strikes were conducted in the area. According to the Houthis, at least two people were killed and 42 injured just in the concrete factory strike zone.
The Israeli military stated that the attack was carried out with knowledge of the American administration, which is also operating against the militias in Yemen, in response to "attacks by the Houthi regime against Israel, including ground-to-ground missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles launched toward the country and its citizens." Specifically, the strike comes following the Shiite militia's firing at Israel, which caused a direct hit in the Ben Gurion International Airport area.
According to the IDF, the maritime port in Hodeidah is used to transfer Iranian weapons, military equipment, and other terrorist supplies. Additionally, they struck the "Bajil" concrete factory east of Hodeidah city, which serves as an important economic resource for the Houthi terrorist regime and is used for building tunnels and military infrastructure. "Damaging this factory represents a blow to the regime's economy and military buildup," the Israeli military announced.
"The terrorist infrastructure sites struck in the Hodeidah Port serve as a central supply source for the Houthis, and is used for the transfer of Iranian weapons. The "Bajil" Concrete Plant, east of the city of al-Hodeidah, was also struck, which functions as a significant economic resource and is used for the construction of underground tunnels and terrorist infrastructure for the Houthis. The strike on the terrorist infrastructure sites was conducted precisely, with measures taken to mitigate harm to vessels docked at the port. The Houthi terrorist regime has been operating under Iranian direction and funding, in order to target Israel and its allies, undermine regional stability and disrupt global freedom of navigation," the IDF said in a statement. "The Houthi terrorist regime has been operating under Iranian direction and funding, in order to target Israel and its allies, undermine regional stability and disrupt global freedom of navigation. The IDF is determined to continue operating, at any distance, against all threats posed to the State of Israel," the statement continued.
Video: Israel's attack on Yemen's Port of Hodeidah / Credit: Social media
⭕️IAF fighter jets struck Houthi terror targets, along Yemen's coastline.
The strike was conducted in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthis against Israel, during which surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs were launched toward Israeli civilians.
The terrorist… pic.twitter.com/RSihcuin0Q
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 5, 2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri were present in the command bunker in the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv during the strike. The Israeli Air Force commander was in the air force command post, directing and managing the operation, and joined the other senior officials a few minutes after the strike.
Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti responded to the Israeli attack in Hodeidah by saying, "Escalation will be met with similar escalation until the aggression on Gaza stops."
He further told Arab media that the pro-Iranian terrorist organization coordinates all decisions with Hamas, and that the ballistic missile launch toward Ben Gurion Airport was at Hamas's request.
The Houthi senior official also said they "are serious about imposing an air blockade on Israel and the latest attack is a warning." The Yemeni terrorist organization's council claimed that "Israel attacked economic targets because it failed to reach military sites." It was also stated that the attacks by the US and Israel were designed to create "discontent among Yemenis."
Earlier Monday, the United States attacked several Houthi targets in Yemen. Arab media reported extensive strikes in the Al-Jawf and Sana'a governorates in the north of the country. Yemen sources report that so far there have been seven strikes against the Houthis. According to reports, Israel also attacked terrorist targets of the organization in the port of Hodeidah.
A senior official in southern Yemen, which opposes the Houthis, told Israel Hayom earlier Monday in response to the Houthis' threat against Ben Gurion International Airport that "this group only understands the language of death. There is no other solution with them besides using excessive force through real support for the southern armed forces and national (Yemeni) army forces while continuing US airstrikes."
