Israel’s air force struck Houthi-controlled infrastructure in western Yemen early Monday, hours after issuing evacuation warnings for the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. The assault, branded “Operation Black Flag,” involved dozens of munitions and marked Israel’s first attack on Yemen in nearly a month. The IDF said the sites were used to channel Iranian weapons and to launch drones and missiles at Israel. Among the targets was the Galaxy Leader, a roll-on/roll-off vessel seized by the Houthis in November 2023 and reportedly equipped with radar to track commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed air-defence units engaged Israeli aircraft and later said the group fired missiles and drones at Israel; sirens sounded in parts of the West Bank and along the Dead Sea, with no casualties reported. Israel’s military said intercept attempts were under review. Israeli officials linked the strikes to renewed Houthi attacks, including at least three ballistic missiles fired toward Israel over the weekend and a suspected Houthi drone-boat raid on the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas that forced its crew to abandon ship. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Houthis would “continue to pay a heavy price” if the assaults persist, underscoring rising tension on Red Sea trade routes.