The Israeli navy struck the Yemeni port of Hodeida on Tuesday using missile ships, the military said, adding the attack was in response to recent launches by Houthi rebels towards Israeli territory. 

"This morning (Tuesday), Israeli navy missile ships struck terror targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in the port of Hodeida ... following the aggression of the Houthi terrorist regime towards the State of Israel, including the launch of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs (drones) toward Israeli territory," the military said.

"The strikes were carried out to stop the use of the port for military purposes," it said, adding that the port was being "used to transfer weapons".

Yemen's rebel-controlled media reported Israeli strikes on the country's main port. The Al-Masirah TV channel said "two strikes by the Israeli enemy targeted the docks of the port of Hodeida".

In a post on X, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said "we warned the Houthi terror organisation that if they continued firing towards Israel, they would face a powerful response and be subjected to a naval and aerial blockade".

Earlier, Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Israeli army spokesman said that "because of the use of maritime ports by the Houthi terrorist regime, we call on all people present" in the ports of Ras Issa, Hodeida and Salif "to evacuate them immediately for their own security" in an Arabic post on X and Telegram.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023 with Palestinian militant group Hamas's attack on Israel.

The Iran-backed group, which says they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month Gaza ceasefire that ended in March, but renewed their assault after Israel resumed its military campaign in the territory.

While most of the projectiles have been intercepted, one missile fired in early May hit the perimeter of Ben Gurion airport for the first time.

Israel has carried out several strikes in Yemen in retaliation for the attacks, including on ports and the airport in the capital Sanaa.