Israeli Warplanes Launch Series of Airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeida Province

HODEIDA, July 7 (Voice of Malaysia) — Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes early Monday targeting key infrastructure in Yemen’s Hodeida province, according to local sources and Yemeni officials.

The strikes reportedly hit multiple strategic sites, including the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Al-Salif, as well as the main power station in Ras Kathib, significantly escalating tensions in the Red Sea region.

Local sources confirmed to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that the attacks caused damage to port facilities and vital energy infrastructure, though the full extent of the destruction and casualties remains unclear as assessments are ongoing.

In a brief statement earlier, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that Yemeni Air Defense Forces were actively engaging Israeli aircraft, stating, “Yemeni Air Forces are currently confronting the Zionist aggression on our country.”

The strikes come amid heightened regional tensions and follow previous threats from Israel to target Yemeni territory in response to maritime disruptions and drone attacks carried out by the Yemeni Armed Forces in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

There has been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the latest operation.

Yemen’s Armed Forces have vowed to continue their military operations until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 57,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

This latest escalation raises concerns of a broader conflict engulfing the Red Sea and surrounding regions, with potential implications for global shipping routes and regional stability.