Israel exchanged missile fire with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Monday, targeting the group’s ports and other facilities.

Israel launched its initial strikes in response to what was believed to be a Houthi assault on a ship flying the Liberian flag in the Red Sea. The ship was hit with explosives and small arms fire, leading it to start taking on water and requiring the crew to evacuate. Although the Houthis have not officially claimed the attack, Israel’s military gave a warning before launching strikes on the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif.

“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 Israeli military said.

The Houthis responded in kind when Israeli missiles started falling, but Israel reported no casualties from the attack.

Israel’s air defense targets Iranian missiles in the sky of Tel Aviv in Israel, on June 16, 2025. (MATAN GOLAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Army Gen. Michael Kurilla told lawmakers in the House Armed Services Committee last month that Iran is the number one reason the Houthis remain a threat, adding the terrorist network “would die on the vine without Iranian support.”

News of Monday’s exchange comes just hours before President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet at the White House.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet once again at the White House on Monday. (REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo/File Photo)

The two leaders are expected to discuss the future of Gaza, with Israel insisting Hamas must be removed from the region completely.