Kohavi Orders Acceleration of Plans to Attack Hamas, Islamic Jihad Rocket Stockpiles

Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
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Kohavi Orders Acceleration of Plans to Attack Hamas, Islamic Jihad Rocket Stockpiles

Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi has ordered the military to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Citing unnamed sources in the General Staff’s Planning Directorate, the Walla news site said that the plan is aimed at significantly reducing the ability of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to target Israel with rockets in the early stages of a future conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The two organizations are working to replenish their rocket supply following the 11-day fight in Gaza this May between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza Strip.

Military officials acknowledged that due mostly to a lack of precise intelligence, the Israeli army was unable to destroy the lion’s share of the armed groups’ existing arsenals of rockets.

General Staff officers regarded intelligence on the various rocket stockpiles in the Gaza Strip as a major weakness, some defining it as a failure.

The May clash saw at least 4,000 rockets and mortar shells fired towards Israel.

The rockets represent a spearhead to the two movements in any conflict with Israel, succeeding in spreading fear among civilians and paralyzing normal life as the Iron Dome fails to intercept all missiles.

Israel says that Hamas uses civilians’ institutions and houses as locations to store and launch missiles from, but Hams denies this.



Israel Attacks Houthi Targets in Yemeni Ports, Power Plant

Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
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Israel Attacks Houthi Targets in Yemeni Ports, Power Plant

Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)
Yemenis brandish their rifles and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa on July 4, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP)

Israel has attacked Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, the Israeli military said early on Monday, marking the first Israeli attack on Yemen in almost a month.

The strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, and Ras Qantib power plant were due to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, the military added.

Hours after the strikes, the Israeli military said two missiles were launched from Yemen and attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of interception were still under review.

The Israeli ambulance service said it had not received any calls regarding missile impacts or casualties following the launches from Yemen.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have fired at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade, in what it says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Most of the dozens of missiles and drones fired toward Israel have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
Israel also attacked Galaxy Leader ship in Ras Isa port, which was seized by Houthis in late 2023, the military added on Monday.

"The Houthi terrorist regime's forces installed a radar system on the ship, and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space, in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities," Reuters quoted the military as saying.

The Houthi military spokesperson said following the attacks that Houthis' air defenses confronted the Israeli attack 'by using a large number of domestically produced surface-to-air missiles'.

Residents told Reuters that the Israeli strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah put the main power station out of service, leaving the city in darkness.

The assault comes hours after a ship was attacked off Hodeidah and the ship's crew abandoned it as it took on water.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes.

“What’s true for Iran is true for Yemen,” Katz said in a statement. “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.”