An Israeli defence official told The Telegraph that it was an “Israeli strike only”, dismissing earlier reports about the UK and US joining the attack. Israel did, however, inform the US about the strike in Yemen ahead of time, the official added.
“The reason Israel could strike within 24 hours was that we have been preparing for this for months,” the official said.
An IDF official said the port serves as a “main supply route for weapons from Iran to Yemen”, and that air strikes targeted “dual-use infrastructure used for terror activity of the Houthis that have carried out hundreds of terror attacks”.
The Houthis began attacking shipping in the Red Sea in October, in what they said was a response to Israel’s attack on Gaza following the Oct 7 terror attacks.
They have vowed to continue their campaign until the war in Gaza is over.
Israel previously said it had shot down a suspected Houthi drone approaching the port of Eilat.
British and US jets have conducted several strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping. This is the first time Israel has struck directly.