Israel launches a major offensive against Houthi rebels, destroying Yemen’s main airport and warning civilians to evacuate three key ports immediately as the nation vows to “defend itself by itself” after being excluded from the US-Houthi ceasefire deal.
Key Takeaways
- Israel has issued urgent evacuation warnings for three Yemeni ports (Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif) following its bombing of Sanaa airport that disabled the airfield.
- The military action comes in direct response to a Houthi ballistic missile strike near Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport and after Israel was excluded from a US-Houthi ceasefire deal.
- President Trump announced America would stop striking the Houthis, claiming they had “capitulated” regarding shipping in the Red Sea, but the rebels maintain they will continue targeting Israel.
- At least seven people were killed and 74 wounded over two days of Israeli attacks in Yemen, while Israel continues operations in Gaza where at least 18 people died in strikes on a school sheltering displaced civilians.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized Israel’s determination to defend itself independently against all threats after being left out of regional security arrangements.
Israel Steps Up Military Campaign Against Houthi Rebels
The Israeli military has escalated its conflict with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, bombing Sanaa’s international airport and disabling it completely. The strikes, which involved 50 bombs and required mid-air refueling, destroyed commercial aircraft on the tarmac and rendered the airfield inoperable. This marks a significant intensification of Israel’s military response to ongoing Houthi attacks, with the IDF now issuing evacuation warnings for three additional Yemeni ports: Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif. The evacuation notices, posted by IDF Arabic media spokesperson Avichay Adraee on social media, indicate that further strikes may be imminent.
The current escalation follows a Houthi ballistic missile strike aimed at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, which Israel successfully intercepted. The Houthis have reported casualties from Israel’s retaliatory strikes, with at least seven people killed and 74 wounded over two days of attacks. These developments represent the second evacuation warning issued by Israel for Yemen within a week, signaling a pattern of systematic military pressure against Houthi capabilities and infrastructure that could potentially threaten Israel or disrupt regional shipping lanes.
US-Houthi Ceasefire Excludes Israel
President Donald Trump recently announced that America would cease striking Houthi targets, claiming the rebels had “capitulated” and agreed to stop targeting shipping in the Red Sea. This announcement came as part of a ceasefire arrangement brokered with assistance from Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi. However, this agreement notably excluded Israel, leaving the Jewish state to address Houthi threats independently. The arrangement has created a complex diplomatic situation where America is stepping back from direct confrontation while Israel continues and even intensifies its military campaign against the same adversary.
“Today’s news about the situation in the Red Sea means that diplomatic efforts have led to the end of the conflict between the US and Ansar Allah in Yemen. They will no longer target each other, ensuring freedom of navigation for international commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” said Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister.
Despite the ceasefire with American forces, the Houthis have explicitly stated their intention to continue attacks against Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza. This position creates an ongoing security challenge for Israel, which has now signaled its readiness to conduct independent military operations against the Yemen-based group. The situation highlights the fragmented approach to regional security, with Israel finding itself isolated in its fight against a proxy group widely believed to be supported by Iran.
Israel Vows Independent Defense Posture
In response to being excluded from the US-Houthi ceasefire arrangement, Israeli officials have taken a firm stance on maintaining their national security independently. Defense Minister Israel Katz made Israel’s position unmistakably clear, emphasizing the nation’s determination to address threats without relying on international cooperation. This approach reflects Israel’s historical security doctrine of self-reliance, particularly when regional dynamics and diplomatic arrangements may not fully address its specific security concerns.
“Israel must be able to defend itself by itself against any threat and any enemy. This has been true in the face of many past challenges, and it will remain true in the future,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The Houthi leadership has directly linked the ongoing conflict to broader regional tensions, with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi’s supreme political council, warning that “continued escalation will affect the criminal Trump’s visit to the region.” This statement underscores how the Yemen conflict has become intertwined with larger Middle Eastern power dynamics, including Iran’s nuclear program negotiations. Meanwhile, shipping data suggests larger maritime companies are cautiously returning to Red Sea routes, though traffic remains significantly below normal levels amid ongoing security concerns.
Humanitarian Impact and International Concerns
As military operations continue, the humanitarian toll is mounting both in Yemen and Gaza. On the same day as the Sanaa airport attack, Israel conducted strikes in Gaza that reportedly killed at least 18 people, including children, at a school sheltering displaced civilians. These parallel conflicts have drawn international attention and concern, with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, describing the Israeli strikes on Yemen as a “grave escalation” while urging all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further regional destabilization.
The evacuation warnings for Yemen’s ports raise additional humanitarian concerns, as these facilities are critical for the import of food, medicine, and other essential supplies to a population already suffering from years of civil war and economic collapse. The potential disruption of port operations could exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, which has been described as one of the world’s worst. This complex intersection of military, diplomatic, and humanitarian factors continues to shape the evolving situation in Yemen and the broader Middle East.
