The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes on sites in Yemen associated with the Iran-backed Houthi movement, including energy facilities and Red Sea ports. This action follows increased missile attacks launched by the Houthis towards Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian cause amidst ongoing regional tensions.
Israel Launches Airstrikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen Following Missile Threat
Israel Launches Airstrikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen Following Missile Threat
In a significant escalation of military actions, Israel has targeted Houthi infrastructure in Yemen after a missile was intercepted over its territory.
The Israeli military has confirmed it carried out airstrikes against military installations belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, targeting strategic energy sites and ports in the capital, Sanaa. This response by Israel came after a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted above central Israel earlier, which caused damage to local infrastructure, including a school in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv.
The Houthis began their missile attacks on Israel shortly after the onset of the Gaza conflict in late October 2023, stating that these actions were part of their support for the Palestinian cause. According to Israeli defense sources, hundreds of missiles and drones have been fired at the country from Yemen, although most have been successfully intercepted.
The recent Israeli airstrikes reportedly resulted in casualties, with reports from Houthi-controlled Al Masirah television indicating that the strikes claimed the lives of nine individuals, in locations like the port of Salif and the Ras Issa oil terminal, both situated in Hudaydah province. Additionally, some power stations were damaged, impacting local electricity supply according to the Houthi leadership.
Israeli officials articulated that these military operations are designed to debilitate the Houthi capacity to launch future attacks. Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that the airstrikes were planned preemptively, and the IDF spokesperson underscored that the Houthis embodied a threat to regional stability.
In response to the airstrikes, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea asserted that the group would continue its attacks, claiming to have targeted Israeli military sites in a simultaneous operation during the Israeli strikes. He maintained that such aggressions would not deter Yemen from supporting the Palestinian cause against Israel.
It is noted that this is not the first instance of Israeli military action against Houthi targets over recent months, as previous strikes have responded to Houthi provocations, including drone attacks and missile launches that recently threatened international shipping in the Red Sea.
As the situation develops, both U.S. and U.K. forces have also been involved in retaliatory strikes against Houthi positions, underscoring the complexity of international involvement in the conflict. The Houthis, meanwhile, assert that their military actions are a defense of their interests against hostile forces in the region.
