Daijiworld Media Network- Sanaa
Sanaa, May 6: In a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Houthi-controlled Hodeidah province have killed at least two people and injured 42 others, according to health authorities aligned with the Houthi group.
The retaliatory strikes, which began late Sunday and continued into Monday, reportedly targeted key infrastructure in the strategic Red Sea port city, including the Hodeidah port, its airport, a cement factory, and military installations on the city's outskirts. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported a total of 48 airstrikes in the area, claiming significant civilian and structural damage.
Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that plumes of thick black smoke blanketed the skyline of Hodeidah, and panic gripped the city as the airstrikes damaged cargo-handling facilities and multiple private factories. Several of the injured were said to be workers and residents from the Bajil district, near the industrial zone.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed conducting the strikes, stating that around 20 Israeli warplanes launched 50 precision-guided munitions aimed at what it described as “Houthi terror infrastructure.” The operation was conducted roughly 1,700 km from Israeli territory — marking one of the longest-range military actions by Israel in recent years.
While Houthi officials claimed that both Israeli and US forces were involved in the airstrikes, the IDF made no reference to American participation. However, separate reports from Al-Masirah and local sources indicated that at least 20 US-led airstrikes hit Houthi positions in the capital Sanaa and northern provinces of Marib and Al-Jawf on the same day. The US Central Command has not yet commented on these claims.
The latest escalation follows a Houthi-claimed missile attack on Sunday that struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, injuring eight people and briefly disrupting air traffic. Israeli officials admitted their missile defense system failed to intercept the projectile.
The Houthis stated the missile strike was retaliation for Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, vowing continued attacks in solidarity with Palestinians. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised harsh retribution, including action against Iran, which Israel accuses of backing the Houthis.
Hodeidah’s port is a vital humanitarian lifeline for Yemen, currently mired in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Aid groups have warned that any prolonged disruption to port operations could have devastating consequences for millions reliant on imported food, fuel, and medicine.
As regional tensions boil over, concerns are mounting about the potential for a broader conflict that could engulf multiple nations and further destabilize the already volatile Middle East.