Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Israel and U.S. Launch Major Airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen After Missile Hits Near Ben-Gurion Airport

Israel and U.S. Launch Major Airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen After Missile Hits Near Ben-Gurion Airport

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Israeli Air Force, in coordination with the United States, launched a wide-scale aerial assault on Houthi targets in Yemen late Sunday night, following a ballistic missile strike near Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes were carried out “in response to the Houthis’ ballistic missile attack yesterday on Ben-Gurion Airport and previous assaults.” According to the IDF, Israeli fighter jets targeted critical Houthi infrastructure near the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and a concrete factory east of Bajil, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Israeli territory.

“The Hodeidah seaport is used to transfer Iranian weapons, equipment for military needs, and other terrorist purposes,” the IDF said in a statement. “The Bajil concrete factory serves as an important economic resource for the Houthi terror regime and is used for building tunnels and military infrastructure.”

An Israeli security official confirmed that the operation, named Port City, involved 30 Israeli aircraft striking the strategic port and surrounding areas. Targets included unloading docks, concrete structures, and the nearby concrete plant, dealing what the IDF called “a blow to the regime’s economy and military buildup.”

The strikes mark the sixth known Israeli attack on Houthi positions in Yemen since the war began, and the first since January 11. That previous joint Israeli-U.S.-UK operation targeted the Hezyaz power station and Houthi-controlled ports at Hodeidah and Ras Issa.

Israel had held back from further strikes since then, hoping that over 1,000 U.S. airstrikes under President Donald Trump’s renewed campaign would deter Houthi aggression. However, Sunday’s missile attack near Ben-Gurion — believed to involve a new missile type — prompted a shift in strategy.

A senior IDF statement emphasized that “The Houthi terrorist regime has been operating for the past year and a half under Iranian direction and funding in order to harm Israel and its allies, undermine the regional order, and disrupt global freedom of navigation. The IDF is determined to strike forcefully at anyone who poses a threat to the citizens of the State of Israel — at whatever distance is required.”

According to The Jerusalem Post, foreign sources reported close to a dozen attack sites hit during the operation, including Houthi control centers, weapons depots, and underground infrastructure.

Simultaneously, the U.S. launched a separate wave of strikes across northern Yemen. American forces targeted Houthi positions in the provinces of Sanaa, Saada, Marib, Hudaydah, and Al-Jawf. The Ras Issa fuel terminal — previously targeted in January — was also reportedly hit again.

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, responded with renewed threats, warning of a “total aerial blockade” on Israel and urging foreign airlines to avoid Israeli airspace. “We will strike airports, especially Ben-Gurion,” he declared.

PROPHETIC INSIGHTS INTO THE YEMEN CONFLICT

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Shiite militant movement based in northern Yemen that originated from the Zaydi branch of Shi’a Islam. Historically distinct from Twelver Shiism—the dominant Shiite sect in Iran—the Zaydis do not traditionally share the belief in a hidden Mahdi who will return at the end of days. However, over the past two decades, the Houthis have formed a close alliance with Iran, receiving military and ideological support. As a result, they have increasingly adopted elements of Twelver Shiite eschatology, including messianic themes centered on the Mahdi.

In Twelver Shiite belief, the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear in the End Times to restore justice and lead a global Islamic revival. Certain Islamic traditions mention a figure called the “Yemeni” (al-Yamani), who will arise from Yemen as a supporter of the Mahdi and lead an army that plays a pivotal role in liberating the Islamic holy sites, such as Mecca and Medina. These prophecies, while not native to Zaydi doctrine, have gained traction in Houthi messaging, particularly in their fight against Saudi Arabia, which controls the Islamic holy sites.

Through their alliance with Iran and incorporation into the “Axis of Resistance,” the Houthis now present their conflict as more than a regional rebellion — it is increasingly framed in religious-apocalyptic terms. Their rhetoric, including calls for the destruction of Israel and the United States, reflects a broader ideological battle shaped by Twelver Shiite prophecy. This theological alignment, combined with their military actions and Iran’s backing, suggests the Houthis see themselves not only as political actors but as participants in an unfolding end-time struggle.