Date: May 5, 2025
Israel’s military has launched airstrikes targeting strategic sites in Yemen’s Hodeidah port and the Bajil cement factory, marking a significant escalation in its response to a missile attack that struck Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The attack, claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group, occurred on May 4, 2025, and resulted in several injuries. This incident has triggered a series of retaliatory measures, further intensifying regional tensions.
The missile, launched towards Ben Gurion Airport, struck close to an access road near the terminal, injuring four people in the process. Two others were wounded while trying to seek shelter from the blast. The Houthis, who have increasingly targeted Israeli infrastructure in recent months, described the missile strike as a direct response to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The group also vowed to continue targeting Israeli airfields as part of a broader “comprehensive aerial blockade.”
In retaliation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted key Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen. The strikes hit the Hodeidah Port, Yemen’s second-largest port on the Red Sea, and the Bajil cement factory. The IDF claimed these sites were crucial to Houthi operations, with the port being used for the transfer of Iranian weapons to the group and the cement factory serving as a base for constructing tunnels and other military infrastructure. The Bajil factory, according to Israeli sources, also functions as a significant economic asset for the Houthis.
The IDF emphasized that their strikes were precision-based, designed to minimize collateral damage to civilian vessels in the area, and aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ ability to wage war against Israel. However, local residents reported that more than ten airstrikes targeted the Hodeidah Port, and at least four additional strikes hit the cement factory in Bajil. The Houthi-run health ministry confirmed that at least 21 people were injured during these attacks, though the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined.
The escalation comes amid growing concerns about the broader geopolitical consequences of the ongoing conflict. While Israel’s focus has been on its operations in Gaza, the threat from the Houthis has steadily increased, with the group expanding its military capabilities and launching missile attacks on Israeli territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and threatening further retaliation. Netanyahu stressed that Israel would continue its military operations against both the Houthis and their Iranian backers, warning of more airstrikes in the future.
Despite the escalation, the United States, which has been involved in airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, denied any involvement in the Israeli operation. A U.S. defense official confirmed that American forces did not participate in the strikes on Yemen, distancing the U.S. from Israel’s actions in the region.
The Houthis, who have long received support from Iran, have framed the attack as part of a broader regional struggle against what they view as “U.S.-Israeli aggression.” The group has previously targeted Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two key U.S. allies, and has now extended its missile operations toward Israel in an attempt to further escalate the situation.
In a separate statement, former U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration had approved airstrikes against the Houthis in the past, reiterated that the U.S. would continue to pursue military actions in Yemen if necessary. However, tensions are rising as multiple parties, including Israel, Iran, and the U.S., find themselves locked in a dangerous web of military operations across the region.
As the situation intensifies, experts are concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where the conflict between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition has already caused widespread suffering. The strikes on Hodeidah Port, which handles roughly 80% of Yemen’s food imports, further exacerbate the dire humanitarian conditions in the country, with many fearing that vital aid and resources will be further delayed or blocked.
The international community is closely monitoring these developments, and calls for restraint from both sides are growing. Meanwhile, Israel’s security strategy in the region appears increasingly intertwined with its broader objectives in Gaza, as the country faces mounting challenges from multiple fronts.
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