Houthi Leader Mahdi al-Mashat Pledges Continued Attacks on Israel Amid U.S. Ceasefire, Israeli Strikes Disable Sanaa Airport

Yemen’s Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat announced continued attacks on Israel in support of Gaza, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire, mediated by Oman, excludes operations against Israel. Israeli airstrikes on May 6 disabled Sanaa’s airport and targeted infrastructure following a Houthi missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport. The strikes resulted in casualties and prompted Houthi vows of retaliation. Additional Israeli strikes hit Hodeidah, causing further deaths and injuries. The Houthis, supported by local tribes, pledged to escalate attacks until the Gaza blockade is lifted.

Houthi Leader Rejects Ceasefire Limitations on Gaza-Related Attacks

Mahdi al-Mashat, president of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to supporting Gaza, stating that “there will be no retreat from supporting Gaza, no matter the cost.” In remarks broadcast by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV, al-Mashat warned Israelis to “remain in shelters because their government will not be able to protect them,” signaling that the ceasefire with the United States does not extend to halting attacks on Israel.

Al-Mashat further emphasized that the group’s strikes would continue and intensify, describing them as “devastating and painful” and asserting that “no aggression will deter us from our decision to support Gaza until the aggression stops and the siege is lifted.”

Ceasefire with U.S. Excludes Israel

The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Oman and announced on May 6, was intended to de-escalate tensions between the Houthis and the United States, particularly in the Red Sea. According to statements from both Oman and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Houthis agreed to cease attacks on U.S. vessels and commercial shipping lanes, prompting Washington to halt its bombing campaign in Yemen.

However, the agreement made no mention of Houthi operations against Israel. President Trump stated that the Houthis had “capitulated” and no longer wished to fight, but Houthi officials have since clarified that their military actions in support of Gaza will continue unabated.

Israeli Airstrikes Target Sanaa Airport and Infrastructure

In response to a Houthi ballistic missile strike near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on May 4, the Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. On May 6, Israeli fighter jets struck Sanaa’s international airport, reportedly disabling the facility within 15 minutes. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airport had been used by the Houthis to transfer weapons and operatives.

The strikes also targeted a concrete factory and multiple power stations in and around the capital. According to the Houthi-run Ministry of Health, at least three people were killed and 35 others injured in the attacks. Residents of Sanaa reported widespread power outages following the strikes.

Footage aired on Israeli television and shared on social media showed thick black smoke rising over Sanaa’s skyline, with the sound of explosions echoing through the surrounding mountains.

Additional Strikes on Hodeidah and Bajel

The Israeli military also carried out airstrikes on Yemen’s western Hodeidah Governorate, including the port and a cement factory in the Bajel district. The Ministry of Health reported four deaths and 42 injuries from the bombing of the Bajel Cement Factory. A port worker told the German Press Agency that four docks were partially damaged and a fifth was completely destroyed, though no fatalities were reported at the port itself.

The IDF claimed that the Hodeidah port was being used for the transfer of Iranian weapons and military equipment. The operation reportedly involved 30 Israeli fighter jets and was conducted in coordination with the United States.

Houthi Response and Mobilization

In the wake of the Israeli strikes, Houthi leaders vowed retaliation. Al-Mashat declared that the response would be “at a level that will not be bearable for the Israeli enemy.” Houthi spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Al Arabiya TV that “we will meet escalation with escalation,” and warned of further attacks on sensitive Israeli targets.

The Houthi-affiliated Saba News Agency reported that local tribes in Sanaa, Dhamar, and Raymah governorates had called for a general mobilization to denounce what they described as “American and Israeli aggression.”

In a separate statement, Houthi official Nasr al-Din Amer warned international airlines against operating flights to Israeli airports, stating that they could be targeted at any moment by Yemeni armed forces.

Background: Houthi Attacks on Israel and Red Sea Shipping

Since November 2023, the Houthis—also known as Ansar Allah—have launched over 100 drone and missile attacks targeting vessels in the Red Sea, claiming the ships were linked to Israel. The group has also fired missiles directly at Israeli territory, including the recent strike near Ben Gurion Airport, which marked the first time a Houthi missile successfully penetrated Israeli air defenses and reached the vicinity of the country’s main international airport.

The Houthis have stated that their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and will only cease when a permanent ceasefire is established and the blockade on Gaza is lifted.

International Reactions

Iran condemned the Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, calling them a violation of international law. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, described the escalation as “grave,” while urging all parties to exercise restraint.

Despite the ceasefire with the U.S., the Houthis’ continued attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have raised concerns about a broader regional conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed further action, stating, “We acted before, we will act in the future too.”

References

• President Al-Mashat: There Will Be No Retreat From Supporting Gaza, No Matter The Cost
• Houthi senior official says group will continue attacks to support Gaza
• Israel says it has ‘fully’ disabled Yemen’s main airport in escalating strikes on Houthi rebels
• Yemen’s Houthis vow retaliation after Israeli attacks on Sanaa
• Death Toll Rises in Yemen as Iran Condemns US-Israeli Strikes
• Oman says it mediated a ceasefire between U.S., Yemen's Houthis
• Israel’s military says it has fully disabled Yemen’s main airport with airstrikes
• Mediator Oman: US, Yemen's Houthis Agree Ceasefire
• Trump Warns Putin For Third Time To End 'Ridiculous' Ukraine War