Israel army warns Yemenis away from Houthi-held ports - Region

Al-Ahram Weekly

14-05-2025

Israel's army on Wednesday urged Yemenis to stay away from Houthi-held ports, in a likely warning of another attack after it intercepted a missile fired by the rebels.
The Houthis, who are acting in solidarity with Palestinians under genocidal war in Gaza, have repeatedly targeted Israel and shipping in the Red Sea since the start of the Israeli war.
"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," said the Israeli military.
AFP correspondents in Jerusalem heard explosions, likely from the interception of the missile.
The Houthis, who control large swathes of the Arabian Peninsula country, claimed responsibility for launching the missile in what they said was their third retaliation on Israel in less than 24 hours.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said they targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's main gateway near Tel Aviv, using "a hypersonic ballistic missile".
"Due to the use of sea ports by the terrorist Houthi regime... we urge all people present in these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your safety until further notice," Israeli army spokesman said in a post in Arabic on X, mentioning the Yemeni ports of Hodeida, Ras Issa and Salif.
'Running for shelter'
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, said the missile threat from Yemen was disrupting daily life.
"While we handle this press conference, there are sirens in Jerusalem and the centre of Israel after missiles from the Houthis in Yemen," he said.
Last month, a missile fired by the Houthi group struck the grounds of the airport, gouging a hole near its main terminal building and wounding several people, in a rare penetration of Israel's air defences.
Israel later striked the airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa and three nearby power stations.
The Israeli army had issued a warning on Sunday for Yemenis to leave three ports, but no strikes have been reported since.
The Houthis paused their attacks during a recent two-month ceasefire in the Gaza war, but in March threatened to renew them over Israel's aid and food blockade on Gaza.
US President Donald Trump, currently in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a tour of the Gulf, last week announced the Houthis had agreed to halt attacks on shipping.
The United States began carrying out strikes against the Houthis in early 2024 under president Joe Biden, and Trump's administration launched renewed attacks on the rebels in March.
The Pentagon said on April 30 that US strikes had hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March in an operation dubbed "Rough Rider".
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link: