The Israel Defence Forces on Sunday issued evacuation warnings for three ports in Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi group, which has carried out several missile attacks against Israel in recent weeks.
"In light of the use of the seaports by the Houthi terrorist regime for its terror activities, we urge everyone present at the ports to evacuate and stay away from them until further notice," Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the military's Arabic-language spokesperson, wrote on social media.
"Failure to evacuate the ports until further notice puts you at risk," the spokesperson warned.
Arabic-language media reported that Israeli fighter jets had struck Hudaydah Port on the Red Sea, though there was no confirmation of any such attack by the IDF or official Houthi channels.
On Friday, the IDF intercepted a ballistic missile from Yemen, which triggered sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The attack marked the latest in a string of escalations between Israel and the Houthis, who have intensified aerial assaults on the territory of the Jewish state in recent weeks.
On 4 May, a Houthi missile struck the ground close to Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, wounding six civilians and causing significant flight disruptions. The Houthis announced a "comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel and vowed to continue their attacks.
The following day, the IDF conducted a wave of airstrikes on Hudaydah Port, which it said targeted missile launch sites and drone infrastructure.
On 6 May, it carried out large-scale strikes on Sanaa International Airport, with dozens of fighter jets flying more than 1,000 miles to drop 50 precision bombs on the facility, disabling it. The strike also targeted power stations in the Houthi capital, as well as a cement factory.
Ynet reported that IDF intelligence anticipates additional Houthi attacks on Israeli airports as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign. Potential targets reportedly include Haifa Airport and other major transit hubs.
