The fragile ceasefire in the Red Sea collapsed on Sunday as Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a fresh attack on a commercial vessel, prompting Israeli retaliation with its first airstrikes on Houthi-held Yemeni territory since the end of its 12-day war with Iran in June.

Houthi Assault Targets Greek Ship

The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas came under fire from Houthi forces near the port of Hodeidah. The attackers used small arms and self-propelled grenades, forcing the crew to abandon ship after it began taking on water, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the assault, stating the vessel violated their self-declared ban on docking at Israeli-linked ports. The strike is the first since May, when former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a truce following Houthi pledges to halt attacks on maritime routes in exchange for a halt to American military strikes.

Israeli Airstrikes Rock Houthi Strongholds

In response to recent Houthi ballistic missile attacks, Israel launched a significant aerial offensive early Monday. The Israeli military said it used approximately 20 fighter jets and dropped over 50 munitions on strategic Houthi targets, including:

• The ports of Al Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Salif.
• The Ras Kanatib power station.
• The Galaxy Leader, a ship seized by the Houthis in 2023 and allegedly outfitted with radar for maritime surveillance.

According to the Israeli military, these locations were being used to transfer Iranian weapons and support Houthi military infrastructure. Residents in Hodeidah described the bombardment as the heaviest since last year, with visible plumes of smoke rising from multiple sites.

Houthi Response: Missile and Drone Attacks

Shortly after the Israeli strikes, the Houthis launched a barrage of retaliatory attacks targeting:

• Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
• Ashdod port.
• A power station in Ashkelon.
• Eleven drones aimed at the port city of Eilat.

Though there were no immediate reports of casualties or confirmed damage, Israeli authorities did not report any interceptions, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in air defense systems.

Broader Context: Truce and Regional Tensions

The renewed hostilities underscore the limits of the Trump-brokered truce, which had excluded Israel and only partially curbed the Houthi campaign. Though Tehran denies arming the Houthis, both the U.S. and Israel maintain that the Iranian regime continues to fund and coordinate with the Yemeni group.

The Houthis say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, aligning their operations with broader regional tensions surrounding the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.