Latest news with #OperationBlackFlag
Gulf Insider
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Israel Bombs Ports, Power Plant In Yemen After Month-Long Pause
On Sunday Israel's military launched airstrikes on three ports and a power facility against Houthi-controlled Yemen, resulting in the group launching a barrage of missiles in retaliation. Israel is calling the major new initiative 'Operation Black Flag'. The Israeli military (IDF) announced it had targeted the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and as-Salif, as well as the Ras Kathib power station. Additionally, it described striking a radar system aboard the Galaxy Leader , a ship previously seized by the Houthis and currently docked in Hodeidah. This is the first escalation of its kind in nearly a month, and the IDF defended the action as necessary and warranted after intercepting a missile launched from Yemen earlier that day. At least two more missiles were fired on Israel following the port strikes, with Houthi military spokesperson Yehyaa Saree later confirmed the launches, saying they again targeted Ben Gurion Airport, as well as the ports of Ashdod and Eilat and a power station in Ashkelon. Israeli defense systems were active in seeking to intercept the inbound missiles, with possible damage on the ground still being assessed. No casualties on either side of this fresh flare-up were initially reported. There are meanwhile new fears that another war could erupt in the Red Sea, as we also reported earlier. On Saturday evening, air raid sirens sounded across the Dead Sea region and parts of the West Bank following the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward Israel. The launch, attributed to Iran-backed Houthi forces, marked an alarming expansion of their missile capabilities beyond the Red Sea maritime chokepoint. Hours later, on Sunday morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report that a merchant vessel transiting 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, came under attack by multiple boats armed with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The vessel's onboard security team returned fire. The incident remains ongoing. Israel has launched 'Operation Black Flag' against Yemen. Warplanes have dropped at least 60 munitions across the country, including on the ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa after the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the Magic Seas in the Red Sea, a vessel linked to Israel, earlier… — The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) July 6, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the White House on Monday, where a potential ceasefire deal could materialize to end the 21-month war in Gaza. Trump has previously announced a 'final proposal' for a 60-day ceasefire. Renewed conflict in Yemen is likely to also be on the agenda, after the US military formally ended its Red Sea mission. * * * Below are more developing events and headlines via Newsquawk: Middle East Israeli military issued an evacuation order to people at Yemen's ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Al-Salif, as well as to those inside the Hodeidah power station, while it announced to carry out airstrikes in those areas due to military activities being conducted there. Israel's Defence Minister later confirmed military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen's ports of Hodeidah, Salif, Ras Isa, as well as the Ras Qatib power plant A Liberia-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was attacked 51NM off Yemen's Hodeidah, while the UKMTO later announced that all crew abandoned a ship that was attacked southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah. Israeli PM's office said the changes requested by Hamas to the Qatari proposal are not acceptable to Israel, while the negotiating team will depart to Qatar for Gaza talks. Israeli PM Netanyahu said he is determined to ensure hostages' return to Israel and remove the Hamas threat from Gaza, while he said his negotiators in ceasefire talks have clear instructions to achieve an agreement under conditions Israel has accepted. Furthermore, Netanyahu said ahead of his White House meeting that he believes the discussion with US President Trump can certainly help advance these results. US President Trump said he will discuss Iran with Israeli PM Netanyahu and noted Iran's nuclear program was set back permanently but they may restart in a different location, while Trump also said there could be a Gaza deal during the week ahead. First session of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar ended inconclusively and the Israeli delegation does not have sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas as it has no real power, according to two Palestinian officials cited by Reuters. Hamas government office rejected a US State Department accusation that Hamas was involved in an attack on Americans at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site on Saturday. UK government re-established diplomatic relations with Syria. The second round of (Israel-Hamas) negotiations in Doha will begin this afternoon, via Al Arabiya sources. Subsequently, there is reportedly a positive atmosphere in Israel-Hamas negotiations, no breakthrough so far, according to Al Hadath. Ukraine US President Trump said they won't be sending patriot missiles to Ukraine but talked about it and noted they have to be protected, while he said Russian President Putin is worried about sanctions and understands it may be coming. Russian military forces gained control of Sobolivka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Piddubne in Donetsk region. Russian Foreign Minister says Russia does not need a temporary ceasefire, but rather a lasting peace.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel bombs Houthis in Yemen after rebels attack commercial ship for first time in months
Israel has carried out its first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning. The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including one missile that was intercepted Saturday. The Iran-backed Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attack on the bulk carrier 'Magic Seas' in the Red Sea on Sunday, the first on commercial shipping in the region by the rebels this year. Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also hit the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the IDF said in a statement following the strikes. A short time before the wave of attacks, the IDF's Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation 'Black Flag.' In a statement on social media, Katz said, 'The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions' and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launching drones and ballistic missiles at Israel. The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, 'Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,' using, 'a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,' in a short statement on early Monday morning. There are no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes. Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other 'civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,' according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. Since Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. On Sunday, the Houthis attacked the 'Magic Seas' ship, claiming that the its owner had used Israeli ports. The rebels said they had struck the vessel with unmanned boats, missiles and drones, and it had now sunk. They have warned that they will target shipping that uses ports in Israel, which they describe as 'occupied Palestine.' The vessel's operator – Stem Shipping – told Reuters that the 'Magic Seas' had made a port call to Israel in the past, but the latest transit of the region appeared low-risk as it had nothing to do with Israel. The 'Magic Seas' crew of 19 left the boat on Sunday and were being taken by another ship to Djibouti. The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry said an Emirati operation rescued everyone aboard the ship, in close coordination with organizations like the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). A vessel responded to a distress call from the 'Magic Seas' after it came under attack and sustained 'damage' to its structure, causing its crew to abandon ship under 'difficult maritime conditions' the ministry said. In May, the Houthi group – which controls much of northern and central Yemen – agreed to halt attacks on US warships in the Red Sea after more than a month of airstrikes by US forces on its strongholds and missile infrastructure. But it did not pledge to end attacks on other shipping with alleged connections to Israel and has continued to fire ballistic missiles at Israel in support of the Palestinian population in Gaza. This story has been updated with additional developments.
Russia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israel launches Operation Black Flag against Yemen (VIDEO)
Israel has launched an extensive bombing operation targeting key infrastructure in Yemen, with the IDF accusing the Houthi 'terrorist regime' of repurposing ports and power stations for military use. The bombing campaign against one of the world's poorest nations, dubbed Operation Black Flag, was announced early Monday by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The strikes targeted infrastructure at the Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Al-Salif, as well as a power station at Ras Katib. Loud explosions were reported in areas surrounding the targeted sites. 'These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the State of Israel and its allies,' the IDF claimed. The operation was described as a direct response to drone and missile attacks launched from Houthi-controlled territory toward Israel in recent weeks. According to the IDF, one of the targets struck at Ras Isa was the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel seized by Houthi forces in November 2023. The IDF claimed that the militants equipped the ship with a radar system to monitor maritime traffic in the Red Sea and facilitate attacks on commercial vessels. The Ras Kanatib power station was described by the IDF as a legitimate target, serving as a major electricity supply hub for Houthi military operations. 'This is another example of how the Houthi regime uses civilian infrastructure,' the IDF claimed. Katz reiterated that Israel views the Houthis as part of a broader network of Iranian-backed forces in the region. 'As I warned, Yemen will be treated like Tehran,' Katz said in a statement on X. 'Anyone who tries to harm Israel will be harmed, and anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.' Israel has accused the Houthi movement of serving as a 'central proxy of the Iranian regime' and receiving weapons and funding to support what it describes as a global campaign of terrorism. It further accused the Houthis of using the maritime domain to project force and disrupt international trade, and stated that Israel remains committed to striking any threats against its citizens 'wherever required.' The Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea since late 2023, citing solidarity with the Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. While US President Donald Trump brokered a deal in May to halt the attacks in exchange for a pause in Western airstrikes, the group warned that it would resume its operations if Washington supported Israeli strikes on Iran. The Houthis have since fired several drones and missiles at Israel following last month's ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. The latest Israeli retaliatory strikes mark the most extensive military action in Yemen since the series of strikes in May.
CNN
06-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Israel carries out first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since Israel-Iran ceasefire
Israel carried out it first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning. The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel after the ceasefire, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including one missile that was intercepted Saturday. Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also struck the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the IDF said in a statement following the strikes. A short time before the wave of strikes, the IDF's Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation 'Black Flag.' In a statement on social media, Katz said, 'The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions' and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launch drones and ballistic missiles at Israel. The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, 'Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,' using, 'a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,' in a short statement on early Monday morning local. Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other 'civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,' according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. The attack comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump. Since Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. The Iran-backed Houthis have also repeatedly targeted commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. In March, the US carried out extensive strikes on Yemen to degrade the group's military capabilities. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
06-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Israel carries out first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since Israel-Iran ceasefire
Israel carried out it first strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire, attacking ports and a power plant around midnight local time Sunday night into Monday morning. The strikes come after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched at Israel after the ceasefire, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) including one missile that was intercepted Saturday. Israel struck the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif and the Ras Kanatib power plant along the Red Sea. The IDF also struck the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship seized by the Houthis in November 2023. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the IDF said in a statement following the strikes. A short time before the wave of strikes, the IDF's Arabic language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued an evacuation warning for the ports and the power station. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of the newly named Operation 'Black Flag.' In a statement on social media, Katz said, 'The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions' and promised more attacks would follow if the Houthis kept launch drones and ballistic missiles at Israel. The Houthi military confirmed the strikes but said, 'Yemeni air defenses effectively confronted the Israeli aggression,' using, 'a massive barrage of locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles,' in a short statement on early Monday morning local. Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Farah said targeting Yemeni ports, power stations, and other 'civilian facilities is an attempt to harm civilians and has no connection to any military activity,' according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. The attack comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump. Since Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza started in October 2023, the country has come under fire from missiles and rockets from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, who claim to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. The Iran-backed Houthis have also repeatedly targeted commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. In March, the US carried out extensive strikes on Yemen to degrade the group's military capabilities. This is a developing story and will be updated.
