Israel Waited For Trump To Depart Gulf Before Launching Biggest Anti-Houthi Strikes Yet

Gulf Insider

17-05-2025

Following more Houthi ballistic missile attacks targeting Israel in recent days, the IDF conducted a wave of new airstrikes in Yemen on Friday, and crucially as the US military has stepped back amid the Trump-declared ceasefire.
The IDF announced that its airstrikes destroyed infrastructure at the Houthi-controlled ports of Hodeidah and Salif, following missile and drone attacks on Israel. Several dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft were involved, in a major operation that included not just fighter jets, but refueler and surveillance planes.
This operation appears significantly bigger and more expansive in scope than all prior rounds of Israeli attacks on Yemen. The strikes will likely continue in the coming days, especially if the Houthis respond with more attacks on Israel. The timing of Trump having just wrapped up his Gulf Arab states tour is interesting, to say the least.
'These ports are used for the transfer of weapons and are another example of the cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure by the Houthi terror regime to advance terror,' the IDF aid.
Yemen's Sanaa International Airport was targeted by Israel for the second time, and much of it, including commercial aircraft, has already been destroyed.
The IDF said further that its goal is to 'deepen the damage to the Houthis' terror capabilities.' Interestingly all of this comes as President Trump departs the Middle East, after his four-day Gulf tour, which made little mention of Israel or of the Houthis – at least in public comments.
According to Times of Israel, these attacks were delayed so as not to disrupt Trump's Gulf visit:
Israel waited until the end of US President Trump's visit to the region before launching its reprisal strikes on the Houthis, a defense source tells Army Radio. Since the IDF's last strike on Yemen, on May 6, the Houthis launched at least seven missiles and two drones at Israel.
'The IDF now struck and severely damaged the ports in Yemen that are under the control of the Houthi terror group. The airport in Sanaa also remains destroyed,' Defense Minister Katz has also described on X.
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