The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted two waves of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen overnight, the military reported.
The operation involved 14 fighter jets, along with refueling and reconnaissance aircraft, and had been planned for weeks in response to escalating attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on Israel.
The strikes began as IAF jets were already en route to Yemen when the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Israel at around 2:35 a.m. The operation was scheduled for overnight to address operational concerns and optimize intelligence on the targets.
The first wave, carried out at 3:15 a.m., targeted Yemen’s coastal ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif. Key port infrastructure, including eight tugboats used for docking ships, was destroyed. The second wave at 4:30 a.m. targeted two power stations in the capital, Sanaa, further crippling Houthi operations.