Israel urges evacuation of Yemen ports after strikes target Houthi strongholds”
Israel’s military on Sunday called on civilians to evacuate three Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen – Ras Issa, Hodeida, and Salif – following recent airstrikes in response to missile attacks, including one that hit Israel’s main airport. The warning comes amid escalating tensions with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have vowed to continue targeting Israel.On Friday, after the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to retaliate against the Iran-backed rebels.
“The Houthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” Katz said in a post on X.
Israel’s military issued a warning on Sunday for Yemenis to leave three ports in areas controlled by Houthi rebels, following Israeli strikes in recent days in retaliation for missile attacks.
“Due to the use of sea ports by the terrorist Houthi regime… we urge all people present in these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your safety until further notice”, military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post in Arabic on X, mentioning Yemen’s ports of Ras Issa, Hodeida and Salif.
The lifeline port of Hodeida was hit in an Israeli raid earlier this week, part of Israel’s military response to recent Houthi attacks including a rare missile launch that hit inside the perimeter of Israel’s main airport on May 4.
