The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed they targeted the Galaxy Leader, a commercial car carrier seized by Houthi forces in late 2023, during a series of coordinated airstrikes on Yemeni ports and infrastructure early Monday.
The Galaxy Leader, held at Ras Isa port, was reportedly struck after Israeli intelligence identified the vessel as housing a radar system used by Houthi forces to track shipping activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“The Houthi terrorist regime’s forces installed a radar system on the ship and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space,” the Israeli military stated. “This vessel has become a node in their broader operations to disrupt international trade and threaten Israel.”
The IDF confirmed the strikes were part of Operation Black Flag, targeting military infrastructure at the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, as well as the Ras Qantib power plant. These locations have been frequently used by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement to launch attacks on maritime targets and Israel in what the group claims is support for Palestinians in Gaza.
The IDF stated the operation was a direct response to “the repeated Houthi terrorist regime’s actions against the State of Israel” and warned that “Ansar Allah [the Houthis] would continue to pay a heavy price.”
No casualties were immediately reported, and damage assessments to the Galaxy Leader and the Ras Isa terminal remain unclear. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported the presence of two additional vessels alongside Galaxy Leader at the time of the attack and one vessel anchored nearby. Investigations into the extent of the damage are ongoing.
The Galaxy Leader has been held by Houthi forces since November 2023 after being hijacked (pictured) in the Red Sea in one of the most high-profile maritime seizures since the onset of the conflict.
The Israeli strikes came hours after another suspected Houthi missile attack on a vessel off the coast of Hodeidah, which forced the crew to abandon ship after it began taking on water.
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