Israel Launches Airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah Port Day After Houthi Missile Strikes Ben Gurion Airport
Jerusalem, Israel – May 5, 2025 – Israel’s military conducted airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on May 5, 2025, one day after an Iranian-backed Houthi missile struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, briefly halting flights and injuring eight people. The Houthi media office reported that the strikes, which they claimed involved both U.S. and Israeli forces, hit Hodeidah port and a cement factory in the Bajil district, though casualty details remain unconfirmed. The escalation follows a pattern of Israeli retaliatory strikes against Houthi attacks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to respond to both the Houthis and their “Iranian terror masters.”
Details of the Houthi Attack and Israeli Response
- Houthi Missile Strike (May 4, 2025):
- A Houthi ballistic missile, claimed to be a “hypersonic” model named “Palestine 2,” landed near Ben Gurion Airport’s perimeter, damaging a road and a vehicle. The attack triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, causing panic among passengers and prompting a 30-minute suspension of flights, with train services and airport entrances also halted. Eight people sustained light injuries, per Israeli paramedics.
- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported multiple failed interception attempts using the Arrow missile defense system and the U.S.-deployed THAAD system, citing a “technical malfunction” under review. The Houthis celebrated the strike as the first successful hit on Ben Gurion, threatening a “comprehensive air blockade” by targeting Israeli airports repeatedly.
- Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the attack was in “rejection of Israel’s genocide” in Gaza, with Hamas praising Yemen’s “defiance.” The strike was the third consecutive day of Houthi missile launches toward Israel, following a December 2024 attack on Tel Aviv that injured 16.
- Israeli Airstrikes (May 5, 2025):
- The IDF confirmed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Hodeidah, though specific targets were not detailed in the military’s statement. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported six strikes on Hodeidah port and a cement factory in Bajil, alleging U.S. involvement, though no independent confirmation supports U.S. participation.
- The strikes align with Israel’s previous operations against Houthi infrastructure, such as the January 10, 2025, attacks on Hodeidah, Ras Isa ports, and the Hezyaz power station near Sanaa, which killed one and wounded nine. Israel has consistently targeted ports and power facilities, claiming they facilitate Iranian weapons smuggling and Houthi military operations.
- Netanyahu, posting on X, reiterated that the Houthis’ actions “emanate from Iran,” promising retaliation “at a time and place of our choosing.” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this, vowing to “harm them sevenfold” for the airport attack.
Context and Regional Dynamics
- Houthi Campaign: Since October 2023, the Houthis have launched over 400 missiles and drones at Israel, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Most were intercepted, but notable successes include a July 2024 drone attack on Tel Aviv (one killed, 10 injured) and the December 2024 missile strike on Tel Aviv (16 injured). The Houthis also target Red Sea shipping, disrupting 15% of global trade, prompting U.S. and UK strikes and Israel’s retaliatory operations.
- Previous Israeli Strikes:
- July 20, 2024: Israel struck Hodeidah’s oil facilities and power station after a Houthi drone killed one in Tel Aviv, killing six and injuring 87.
- September 29, 2024: Airstrikes hit Hodeidah and Ras Isa ports, targeting fuel and power facilities after a Houthi missile aimed at Ben Gurion during Netanyahu’s return from New York, killing four and wounding 33.
- December 19 & 26, 2024: Strikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah ports, including Sanaa International Airport, killed at least nine, following Houthi missile and drone attacks on Tel Aviv.
- January 10, 2025: Attacks on Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Sanaa’s power infrastructure killed one and wounded nine, targeting alleged Iranian-linked sites.
- Iran’s Role: Israel and the U.S. accuse Iran of supplying advanced missiles, including hypersonic models, to the Houthis, though Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh denied direct control, stating the Houthis act independently. Iran warned of retaliatory strikes if attacked, escalating regional tensions.
Humanitarian and Operational Impact
- Yemen: Hodeidah port, handling 70% of Yemen’s food and aid, has been repeatedly damaged, raising fears of worsened hunger in a country where millions face famine. The May 5 strikes’ impact on civilians is unclear, but past attacks caused power outages and disrupted aid flows. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned escalations, citing risks to humanitarian operations.
- Israel: The Ben Gurion attack led major airlines (Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss, Air India, Wizz Air) to cancel flights through May 6, with the Houthis’ blockade threat adding uncertainty. The IDF’s failure to intercept the missile exposed vulnerabilities, prompting calls for stronger defenses.
- Sentiment on X: Posts reflect polarized views. @EylonALevy (July 2024) supported Israel’s Hodeidah strikes as a response to Houthi aggression, while @Priyamvada227s (September 2024) framed the attacks as justified retaliation. Critics like @AlJazeera condemned civilian impacts, citing Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
Critical Analysis
The May 5 airstrikes fit Israel’s pattern of targeting Houthi infrastructure after high-profile attacks, but the Houthi claim of U.S. involvement lacks evidence, as prior Israeli strikes (e.g., July 2024) were unilateral. The Houthi’s hypersonic missile claim may be exaggerated, as experts doubt their access to such technology, though Iran’s missile advancements raise concerns. The cycle of retaliation risks broader conflict, with Iran’s warnings and U.S. strikes (e.g., March 2025, killing 32) complicating de-escalation. The humanitarian toll in Yemen, coupled with Israel’s Gaza offensive (52,000+ killed), fuels Houthi resolve, making a ceasefire in Gaza critical to reducing regional tensions.
Israel’s May 5, 2025, airstrikes on Hodeidah were a direct response to the Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport, continuing a tit-for-tat escalation that has intensified since October 2023. The strikes, targeting key Houthi infrastructure, underscore Israel’s strategy to deter Iran-backed groups, but the humanitarian cost in Yemen and the risk of a wider conflict loom large. For real-time updates, monitor Reuters, Al Jazeera, or The Times of Israel.