Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah: Houthis threaten, Israel responds forcefully.

Israel carried out a series of intense airstrikes on Houthi group sites in Yemen on Monday, in a significant escalation in the region. An Israeli official confirmed that the operation primarily targeted the port of Hodeidah, with approximately 48 to 50 bombs being dropped on the port, reportedly causing its complete destruction, along with strategic facilities including the "Bajil Concrete Factory" in the province. The airstrikes, involving over 30 Israeli aircraft, were coordinated with the United States, despite a source in the US Department of Defense confirming that US forces did not directly participate in the strikes. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the attack was in response to recent Houthi attacks, resulting in significant damage to the Houthi infrastructure at the port. Meanwhile, conflicting reports from Israeli media suggested that the port was heavily bombed but not completely destroyed. These developments coincided with a series of US airstrikes on Houthi targets in five Yemeni provinces in the past hours, totaling 29 strikes as part of an ongoing campaign since mid-March. In response, the Houthi group announced plans to impose a "comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel, urging international airlines to halt flights to and from Israeli airports for passenger safety. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu monitored the operation from the Ministry of Defense, vowing more strikes against the group, while Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened to escalate responses to any threats to Israel's security, following a missile launch from Yemen near Ben Gurion Airport. Amidst this escalation, US President Donald Trump reiterated holding Iran responsible for any Houthi attacks in the region, further escalating the "war of statements" between Washington and Tehran.