On Monday, May 5th, Houthi rebels reported that US and Israeli forces conducted strikes targeting Sanaa, Yemen's capital, and Hodeidah in the west [1, 7]. This military action followed a missile attack on Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport, which the Yemeni rebels claimed responsibility for [5]. Shortly after the Houthi announcement, the Israeli army confirmed that it carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen [7].
The strikes primarily focused on the port of Hodeidah and a cement factory located east of the city [4]. These actions were taken in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi regime against Israel [4]. On Sunday, May 4th, a Houthi missile directly struck the perimeter of Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, resulting in minor injuries and a temporary halt to air traffic [5, 6].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation against the Houthis and their ally, Iran [5]. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for numerous missile and drone attacks against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians [6]. These attacks began following the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which was a response to the Hamas massacres on October 7, 2023 [6].