IDF Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen in Response to Ballistic Missile Attacks on Israel

Latest Developments

• Renewed Strikes on Yemen: The Israeli Air Force launched strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebel targets in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on May 5. The airstrikes, involving approximately 20 Israeli fighter jets, came “in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel,” according to an IDF statement. The operation came a day after the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Israel that impacted just outside of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, injuring six people.
• Raid Targets Seaport and Cement Factory: Among the locations struck by the IDF were the Hodeidah seaport, which the Israeli military stated “is used to transfer Iranian weapons” and “serves as a major source of income for the Houthi regime.” Israeli jets also struck the “Bajil” cement factory, located east of Hodeidah, which the IDF described as “an important economic resource for the Houthi terrorist regime” and a facility used to construct tunnels and military infrastructure.
• First Strike in Months: The operation marked Israel’s first strike in Yemen since January 10, 2025, when the IDF targeted several Houthi sites in response to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on the Tel Aviv area. Since March 18, the Houthis have launched some 27 ballistic missiles and several UAVs toward Israel. Following the May 4 missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport, the IDF highlighted that, since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, atrocities, the Israeli Air Force has maintained an interception success rate of approximately 95 percent against Houthi-launched ballistic missiles.

FDD Expert Response

“The Israeli Air Force does not conduct operations covering more than 2,000 kilometers to target a conventional industrial facility without strategic justification. The cement factory struck in Yemen was reportedly not a standard civilian site but rather a dual-use facility repurposed by the Iran-backed Houthis to support military infrastructure, including the construction of tunnels and fortifications. Utilizing civilian infrastructure for military purposes raises significant concerns under international humanitarian law. Additionally, the Houthis’ reported appointment of the factory’s director indicates direct organizational influence over the facility, further substantiating claims that it played a role in advancing the group’s military objectives.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The Houthis’ advanced capabilities, which enable their strikes on Israel, U.S. forces, and global shipping, are due to the time, money, and weapons that Iran has poured in. Without their patron, the regime in Tehran, the Houthis would not be the serious threat they have become. While strikes against the Houthis degrade the group’s capabilities, without holding their Iranian backers to account, Houthi terrorists will rebuild and reemerge as a threat to the United States and to our allies in the region.” — Bridget Toomey, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iran-Backed Houthis Launch 3 Missiles, 2 Drones at Israel Over 2 Days,” FDD Flash Brief

“It’s Summer Break in Yemen, and the Children Are off to Houthi Boot Camp,” by Bridget Toomey

“Houthis Conduct Retaliatory Strikes, Issue Threats, Sanctions and Boycotts Against U.S. and Israel,” by Bridget Toomey

“Yemeni Factions Hope to Exploit the Current Chaos in Houthi-Controlled Yemen,” by Bridget Toomey