(BBC News) Israel says it has launched strikes on Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports, including the western port of Hudaydah, Ras Isa and Saif.
The attacks came shortly after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for civilians in the areas, warning of imminent air strikes.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on social media the strikes on the Houthi-controlled sites included a power station and the commercial ship the Galaxy Leader. The ship, hijacked by the rebel group two years ago, was being used to monitor maritime vessels in international waters, Israel said.
Houthi-run media in Yemen said the strikes hit Hudaydah, but no further details were provided on damage or casualties.
Katz said the strikes were part of “Operation Black Flag” and warned that the Houthis “will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.”
“The fate of Yemen is the same as the fate of Tehran. Anyone who tries to harm Israel will be harmed, and anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off,” he said in a post on X.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have regularly launched missiles at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The Israeli Air Force said the latest strikes on Yemen’s ports were in response to “repeated attacks” by the Houthis on Israel and its citizens.
It added that the targeted ports were being used to “transfer weapons from the Iranian regime to carry out terror plans” against Israel and its allies.
Shortly after the attack, Houthis confirmed its air defences had confronted Israel’s strikes with missiles, according to Reuters news agency.