Latest updates: Israel strikes Gaza and Yemen as Houthis launch new missiles

Tensions are escalating in the Red Sea as Iran-backed Houthi forces launch fresh attacks on commercial vessels near Yemen’s Al Hudaydah port, drawing renewed military responses from Israel. The disruption is further straining one of the world's busiest maritime corridors.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday. Trump expressed optimism for a potential hostage deal with Hamas “this week,” as indirect ceasefire negotiations resumed Sunday evening in Doha.

In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis deepens. At least 26 Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes on Sunday, including 10 in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, according to local civil defense officials. The conflict continues to take a devastating toll on the territory’s more than two million residents.

Here are the latest developments.

Netanyahu arrives in US ahead of meeting with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in the United States ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump.

According to media reports, Netanyahu was received at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, by Israel’s ambassador to the US and the Consul General in New York.

Before his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu is expected to hold talks today with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Israel army says two missiles launched from Yemen

Israel said Monday that two missiles were launched toward it from Yemen, hours after the army carried out a series of attacks on Huthi rebel targets in the country.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, two missiles were launched from Yemen. Attempts were made to intercept the missiles and the results of the interception are under review," the army said on Telegram.

Houthis’ maritime attacks impact shipping routes

The Houthis have been targeting ships in this strategic waterway for over a year, escalating their attacks after Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza disrupted global shipping lanes. Although these assaults caused significant disruptions, they largely decreased by late 2024 as vessels were rerouted.

Earlier this year, a heavy bombing campaign by the US and Israel pressured the Yemen-based militia into a ceasefire with Washington. However, the Houthis have since threatened to resume attacks on US-associated vessels after the US joined Israel’s offensive on Iran’s nuclear sites.

The Houthi attacks have caused the largest disruption to global trade since the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting activity in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.

Multiple small vessels attack ship near Al Hudaydah

Multiple small vessels opened fire and launched self-propelled grenades at an unidentified ship in the Red Sea near Yemen’s Al Hudaydah port, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday. An armed security team aboard the vessel returned fire as the incident unfolded roughly 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, a key stronghold of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

Ship set ablaze, crew abandons vessel after attack

In a related incident, UKMTO confirmed that several small vessels attacked another ship near Al Hudaydah, setting it on fire and forcing the crew to abandon it. The assault involved gunfire and self-propelled grenades, according to UKMTO reports citing a company security officer.

The armed security team aboard the vessel engaged in return fire during the attack, which occurred approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah. The Houthis’ ongoing campaign against Red Sea shipping continues to disrupt regional trade.

Trump says 'good chance' of hostage deal with Hamas

Trump said more hostages could be freed soon and added that the US is also working with Israel on broader regional issues, including a potential "permanent deal with Iran." He repeated his claim that US strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites during the recent 12-day conflict.

Since Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people, 251 hostages were taken. Israel says 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 believed dead. In response, Israel’s offensive has killed at least 57,418 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN considers credible.

Israeli airstrikes target Houthi sites

On July 6, 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including the ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif. Israeli fighter jets destroyed what the government described as “terror infrastructure” belonging to the Houthi rebels, in response to repeated attacks against Israel.

The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV confirmed the strikes, which also targeted the Ras Al Kathib power station. Israel has frequently carried out strikes in Yemen, including on ports and Sanaa airport, in retaliation for Houthi missile and drone attacks since the Gaza war began in late 2023.

Among the targets was the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, seized by the Houthis in November 2023 and reportedly outfitted with radar systems to monitor Red Sea shipping.

Houthis’ ongoing campaign

The Houthis say their attacks are acts of solidarity with Palestinians. Since the Gaza conflict erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, they have intensified missile and drone strikes on Israel and expanded their campaign to target vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Beginning in January 2024, the group extended its attacks to ships associated with the US and UK after both countries launched military operations to secure the waterway. Although a ceasefire was agreed with the US in May 2025, the Houthis continue to threaten Israeli-linked shipping.