Hodeidah (South24 Center)

Israel launched intensive airstrikes in the early hours of Monday, July 7, targeting Houthi-controlled ports and facilities in the coastal city of Hodeidah, western Yemen. The attack came hours after a commercial cargo ship was attacked in the Red Sea, in the first maritime assault there in months.

The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes hit Hodeidah port, Ras Isa, Al-Salif, and the Ras Kathnib power station, in response to Houthi rocket attacks on Israel and what it described as "terrorist activities" in the Red Sea. The operation involved 20 warplanes firing 50 missiles and shells, according to an Israeli military statement.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the strikes also targeted the Houthi-seized vessel Galaxy Leader, captured by the group in November 2023, alleging it was being used as a floating military platform.

Following the airstrikes, the Israeli military reported detecting two additional missiles fired from Yemeni territory, with one intercepted by air defenses. The damage assessment is ongoing.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed their air defenses, using locally made surface-to-air missiles, effectively repelled Israeli aircraft, forcing many to retreat.

The airstrikes came a day after the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, marking the second such attack on the Israeli airport within a week. The group described it as support for the Palestinians and in retaliation for the continued Israeli aggression.

Hours before the Israeli strikes, a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier ‘Magic Seas’ was attacked 100 km southwest of Hodeidah port on Sunday. Maritime sources reported the assault involved eight speedboats, machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and a suicide drone boat explosion.

The attack caused a major fire, severe structural damage, flooding and left the vessel listing dangerously, raising fears of its sinking. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the crew had issued a distress call and was fully evacuated to a passing ship.

While no group claimed responsibility, the attack's modus operandi matches past Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping since late 2023. A senior Houthi official, Nasser al-Din Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media authority, posted on X (Twitter): “Yemeni strikes continue - no ships will pass through our operational zone ", widely seen as an implied admission of responsibility for the ‘Magic Seas’ attack.

The Magic Seas vessel as seen on the MarinaTraffic tracking site off the coast of Hodeidah, July 7, 2025 (South24 Center)

The Houthis Red Sea campaign peaked in 2024 but paused after the Gaza ceasefire announcement in January. Despite the ceasefire's collapse and Israel's resumed war on Gaza, the group did not restart ship attacks, coinciding with Trump's return to the White House. In May 2025, Trump halted the U.S. airstrikes (Operation Rough Rider) in exchange for a Houthi pledge to stop targeting ships.

Sunday’s incident marks the first major ship attack since the start of 2025, with Israel's retaliation representing a significant escalation. Houthi threats persist despite their temporary pause in Red Sea operations, underscoring rising tensions in the region as maritime security again comes under threat amid stalled diplomatic efforts.