Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has vowed to escalate
retaliatory operations against Israel should Israeli attacks intensify, citing
ongoing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Multiple sources confirm an
escalation of reciprocal military actions, with regional and international
actors urging restraint amid fears of widening conflict.
Yemen Warns of Escalation Amid Israeli Air Strikes: In-Depth Analysis
Israeli air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen have
triggered fresh warnings from Yemen’s Ansarullah (Houthi) movement that any
further Israeli escalation will be met with intensified retaliatory attacks.
Regional tension remains high as both sides exchange attacks, impacting
civilian populations and critical infrastructure, and drawing international
condemnation and calls for de-escalation.
Yemen’s Official Statement Say
As reported by Press TV, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior member of the Political Bureau of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement, directly warned,
“Any escalation by Israel against us will be met with a new wave of retaliatory strikes.”
Al-Bukhaiti clarified that Israeli military
actions would only motivate Yemen to prolong and deepen its support for Gaza,
stressing that these attacks would not deter ongoing operations targeting
Israel.
Al-Bukhaiti was quoted as stating on the al-Araby television network,
“The Israeli strikes against us will serve as a motive to continue our support for Gaza.”
He underlined the movement’s firm stance: Yemen’s operations
will only end when Israeli aggression ceases and the blockade of Gaza is lifted.
Timeline and Background to the Latest Escalations
The Build-Up
According to a report published by Wikipedia, the escalation followed the resumption of Houthi missile attacks against Israel after a ceasefire in March 2025 ended. Israeli authorities confirmed that, on 5 May 2025, Israel launched major airstrikes on Yemen after a Houthi missile hit near Ben Gurion Airport, disrupting flight schedules and leading to public alarm. This was promptly followed by Israeli air assaults on Hodeidah port and, the next day, an attack on Sanaa International Airport, effectively disabling key infrastructure including runways, air bases, and civilian planes. Khaled al-Shaief, director of the airport, claimed,
“around $500 million in losses were caused by the Israeli aggression on the airport”.
During these operations, a spokesman for the
Houthi-controlled Health Ministry reported to the BBC that at least 21 people
were injured in the airstrikes on port facilities and surrounding industrial
areas, with additional casualties being reported by other outlets. The
Houthis publicly attributed these airstrikes to “US-Israeli aggression”, though
a US defence official disputed American military involvement in this specific
operation.
Houthis Targeting Israel
Yemen’s Houthis have repeatedly asserted—to Al Jazeera and
other outlets—that their missile and drone attacks against Israel and
Israeli-linked shipping are acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s
military campaign in Gaza. Houthi spokespersons, cited by Al Jazeera, state
that their actions are directly linked to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and their
demands for humanitarian relief and ending of what they call Israel’s
“genocidal war on Gaza”.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik
al-Houthi warned that attacks would escalate if Israel did not lift the
blockade on Gaza, stating, “We are allowing a four-day period … If, after the
deadline, Israel continues to obstruct aid to Gaza and keeps the crossings
closed, the Houthis will recommence their naval actions against the Israeli
forces”.
How Has Israel Responded to Houthi Attacks?
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, as cited by BBC and Arab News, confirmed that recent airstrikes were part of “Operation Black Flag”, aimed at neutralising the Houthis’ capacity to threaten Israel and international shipping. Katz stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter),
“The destiny of Yemen mirrors that of Tehran. Anyone who seeks to inflict harm on Israel will suffer and anyone who raises [a hand] against Israel will find their hand severed”.
The Israeli military has repeatedly claimed that Houthis are
utilising key Yemen ports and infrastructure—including Hodeidah and capture
vessels like the Galaxy Leader—for arms shipments and coordinating attacks,
hence the repeated targeting of these sites.
The Israel Defense Forces stated, as relayed by the BBC, that airstrikes focused on
“minimising harm to ships docked at the port”
and
claimed the Bajil factory was being used for tunnel-building and military
manufacturing by Houthi militants.
What Impact Have the Strikes Had?
Human and Economic Consequences
The UN, as reported by the United Nations News and other relief agencies, has issued repeated warnings about the humanitarian impact of the bombings. UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stated,
“The strike on Sana’a airport and the destruction of the civilian aircraft deprives many Yemenis of a critical means to leave the country for medical, educational, family, or religious reasons, especially at a time when thousands of pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj”.
According to Human Rights Watch and additional humanitarian
sources, the strikes on Sana’a airport and Red Sea ports have been described as
potentially unlawful and indiscriminate, gravely exacerbating Yemen’s chronic
humanitarian suffering. The Hodeidah port is particularly vital, as it
serves as the primary entry point for 80% of Yemen’s food imports, and its
repeated targeting is endangering millions of civilians already facing hunger
and poverty.
Civilian casualties have been mounting, with reports of at
least three dead and dozens injured during the strikes on major airports and
port areas. The World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other humanitarian officials were present at Sana’a
airport during one Israeli strike, underlining the wider risks posed to
international aid operations.
Are These Strikes Risking Wider Conflict?
Several regional and international figures have raised
serious concerns about the risk of broader regional escalation. As quoted by
Arab News, Israel’s Defence Minister Katz warned Yemen’s “fate will be the same
as Tehran’s,” referencing the June strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military
sites, heightening fears that Yemen could become another major front in the
ongoing Middle East crisis.
A Gulf official, speaking on condition of anonymity to Arab News, cautioned,
“Any Israeli escalation could plunge the region into utter chaos”.
These concerns are echoed by international officials. UN
Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the escalation and called for all
parties to respect international law to prevent further civilian suffering.
International Response
The United Nations and major powers have called for
restraint on all sides. The UK ambassador at the United Nations, Barbara
Woodward, issued a statement strongly condemning Houthi missile and UAV attacks
on Israel and their targeting of commercial shipping, warning that the conflict
“risks regional escalation” and is worsening Yemen’s humanitarian conditions. The
UK, UN, and multiple NGOs continue to advocate for political solutions and
dialogic engagement.
Next Moves for Yemen and Israel
Will Yemen Escalate Retaliatory Actions?
As reiterated by Press TV and supported by statements across multiple Arab and Western media, Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has declared its intent to escalate operations if Israeli attacks intensify. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti confirmed explicitly that
“the Israeli attacks will not undermine Yemen’s ongoing operations against Israel,”
and that support for Gaza will not
falter in the face of military pressure.
The Houthi-controlled government continues to claim
solidarity with Gaza as a guiding motive for its military actions, and has
issued conditions for de-escalation—including the cessation of the blockade and
violence in Gaza.
Is Israel Prepared for Further Strikes?
Israel, as stated in official communiqués and via Israeli
military spokespeople, is determined to “attack in the future” should Houthi
aggression persist. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have
repeatedly signalled their willingness to expand operations.
Will This Escalation Affect Shipping and Regional Trade?
Since late 2023, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Bab
el-Mandeb Strait have forced rerouting of global shipping, according to Al
Jazeera and BBC, with over 100 assaults recorded and several vessels seized or
sunk. This trend, accompanied by tit-for-tat airstrikes, represents a
direct threat to international trade, regional stability, and maritime
security.
The current trajectory suggests further escalation is
possible unless diplomatic channels succeed in pulling both sides back from
confrontation. Humanitarian costs are set to rise if infrastructure strikes and
missile exchanges continue, with millions of Yemeni civilians now at heightened
risk. Both regional and global powers urge restraint; however, statements from
Ansarullah’s Mohammed al-Bukhaiti and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz
point to a cycle of promised retaliation with no immediate end in sight.