In a series of escalations, Israel intercepted a missile fired from Yemen on early Sunday, just hours after Israeli warplanes struck multiple Houthi targets in the Arab Peninsula country. These airstrikes, in response to a deadly Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv, mark the first known instance of Israel retaliating against repeated Houthi attacks throughout their nine-month conflict against Hamas.

Late Saturday, the Israeli army confirmed the airstrikes in Al Hudaydah, a key Houthi stronghold in western Yemen. Utilizing U.S.-made F-15 and F-35 warplanes, Israel targeted the city in response to hundreds of Houthi attacks. The strikes resulted in the deaths of six individuals, with 83 others sustaining injuries, some severely burned. Three individuals remain missing as per Yemen's Health Ministry statement shared by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Moatasem Abdel Salah, a resident of Sanaa, emphasized that these attacks would not deter the Yemeni people and leadership as they continue to target Israeli entities. Israel, along with the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western allies in the region, have successfully intercepted the majority of Houthi missiles and drones. However, early on Friday, a Houthi drone managed to breach Israel's air defenses, crashing into Tel Aviv and resulting in the death of one person.

The Israeli military stated that Saturday's strike, taking place over 1,700 kilometers (over 1,000 miles) from Israel, was one of the most complex and long-range operations conducted by their air force. Israel targeted the port due to its role in facilitating the delivery of Iranian arms to Yemen. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised similar strikes "in any place where it may be required."

The Houthis, one of several Iranian-backed groups supporting Hamas, have been launching attacks against Israel since the Palestinian militant group's assault on October 7. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has been engaged in daily clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon, igniting fears of an expanded conflict.

The Hodeidah port not only serves as a Houthi stronghold but also serves as a vital gateway for supplies entering Yemen. Since 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war, with the Houthis seizing control of much of the north and forcing the internationally recognized government to flee. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support the government, subsequently transforming the conflict into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the "blatant Israeli aggression," stating that the attacks targeted fuel storage facilities and the province's power station. Abdulsalam suggested that these actions aim to further aggravate the suffering of the Yemeni people and pressure Yemen to halt its support for Gaza. However, he asserted that the attacks would only strengthen Yemen's resolve to support Gaza.

The Israeli military confirmed that the surface-to-surface missile fired on Sunday was intercepted before reaching Israeli territory. Since January, the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted strikes in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, which they claim are retaliatory measures against Israel's actions in Gaza. However, it has been noted that many of the targeted ships were not linked to Israel.

In another incident, the Houthis recently targeted a Liberia-flagged container vessel in the Red Sea. Reports suggest that the ship, named Pumba, experienced minor damage due to attacks from three small Houthi vessels, an uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle, and missile fire near Mocha, Yemen. Fortunately, all crew members onboard the ship were reported to be safe.

Despite joint force airstrikes by Israel and its allies, the Houthis continue to possess a significant arsenal, including long-range ballistic missiles, smaller cruise missiles, and "suicide drones." These weapons are capable of reaching southern Israel, as confirmed by weapons experts and frequently showcased by the Houthis through military parades in Sanaa.