Israeli Warplanes Launch 20 Airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah as Tensions Escalate
SANA’A, July 7 (Voice of Malaysia)— Israeli warplanes launched at least 20 airstrikes on the strategic Yemeni port city of Hodeidah on Sunday, escalating regional tensions amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.
In a statement released shortly after the attacks, the Yemeni Armed Forces confirmed that their air defense units confronted what they called “Israeli aggression” and vowed continued resistance.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces assure our people and the free people of our nation that we are in a high state of readiness. With Allah’s help, we are fully capable of confronting the aggressors,” the statement read. “These attacks will not impact our military capabilities. Support operations for Gaza and Palestine will continue at full strength. We will defend our land and our people with all the power we possess, Allah willing.”
The airstrikes came after the Israeli military issued a warning, threatening to carry out precision strikes on Yemeni territory. The Israeli army claimed that military activity was taking place at several Yemeni ports and issued evacuation warnings for three key sites: the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and as-Salif, along with the Hodeidah power station.
The latest developments follow months of growing regional confrontation, as Yemen’s armed forces—aligned with the Ansarallah (Houthi) movement—have imposed a blockade on strategic maritime routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The blockade aims to disrupt the flow of weapons and military supplies to Israel and draw global attention to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The Yemeni Armed Forces have declared that their military operations will persist until Israel ceases its ground and aerial attacks in Gaza, where over 57,300 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli strikes on Yemen mark a significant escalation and are likely to widen the scope of conflict across the region, drawing renewed international concern over the potential for broader war in the Middle East.