On Sunday Israel's military launched airstrikes on three ports and a power facility against Houthi-controlled Yemen, resulting in the group launching a barrage of missiles in retaliation. Israel is calling the major new initiative 'Operation Black Flag'.

The Israeli military (IDF) announced it had targeted the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and as-Salif, as well as the Ras Kathib power station. Additionally, it described striking a radar system aboard the Galaxy Leader, a ship previously seized by the Houthis and currently docked in Hodeidah.

This is the first escalation of its kind in nearly a month, and the IDF defended the action as necessary and warranted after intercepting a missile launched from Yemen earlier that day.

At least two more missiles were fired on Israel following the port strikes, with Houthi military spokesperson Yehyaa Saree later confirmed the launches, saying they again targeted Ben Gurion Airport, as well as the ports of Ashdod and Eilat and a power station in Ashkelon.

Israeli defense systems were active in seeking to intercept the inbound missiles, with possible damage on the ground still being assessed. No casualties on either side of this fresh flare-up were initially reported.

There are meanwhile new fears that another war could erupt in the Red Sea, as we also reported earlier.

On Saturday evening, air raid sirens sounded across the Dead Sea region and parts of the West Bank following the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward Israel. The launch, attributed to Iran-backed Houthi forces, marked an alarming expansion of their missile capabilities beyond the Red Sea maritime chokepoint. 

Hours later, on Sunday morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report that a merchant vessel transiting 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, came under attack by multiple boats armed with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The vessel's onboard security team returned fire. The incident remains ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting  the White House on Monday, where a potential ceasefire deal could materialize to end the 21-month war in Gaza. Trump has previously announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire. Renewed conflict in Yemen is likely to also be on the agenda, after the US military formally ended its Red Sea mission.

Below are more developing events and headlines via Newsquawk:

Middle East

Ukraine