Israel carried out extensive strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen overnight Sunday-Monday, shortly after it issued evacuation orders for several areas of the country. Hours later, the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles at Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed early Monday morning that airstrikes carried out by some 20 fighter jets targeted multiple Houthi targets in Yemen, including the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, and the Ras Khatib power station.

The airstrikes also hit the “Galaxy Leader” vessel, which was hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023 and used for maritime surveillance and operational planning, the IDF said.

The Houthis took the ship and its crew of 25 people — who hailed from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico — captive in November 2023, only freeing them in January 2025.

The IDF said that the Houthis “installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities.”

According to the military, all the targets hit in the overnight strikes were used by the Iran-backed Houthi regime to transfer weapons and conduct terror activity against Israel and global shipping.

More than 50 munitions were dropped by the Israeli Air Force fighter jets on the Houthi targets, according to the military.

The IDF said the strikes came in response to........

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