Israel Launches Operation Black Flag Striking Houthi Ports Yemen

Israel launched a significant wave of airstrikes against Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure in Yemen, including Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Al-Salif, as part of a new military operation called "Operation Black Flag." The strikes targeted key logistical and military assets, such as fuel offloading facilities, a power station, and the Galaxy Leader ship, which the Houthis had seized in 2023 and allegedly used for tracking maritime traffic. These attacks followed a recent ambush on the Greek-owned cargo vessel Magic Seas in the Red Sea, which was attacked with small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and bomb-laden drones, though the Houthis have not claimed responsibility. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Yemen would be treated like Tehran, emphasizing that anyone attacking Israel would face severe retaliation, and vowed that the Houthis would continue to pay a heavy price for their actions. The strikes came amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Houthi forces, with the Houthis vowing to continue their operations against Israel until the war and siege on Gaza end. While the Houthis acknowledged the Israeli airstrikes and claimed to have effectively confronted them using surface-to-air missiles, they provided no detailed information on casualties or damages.