Israel has carried out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. This action was in response to a drone attack by the Houthi group on Tel Aviv. The Houthi drone hit a block of flats in Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring eight others. In retaliation, Israeli fighter jets struck the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port of Hodeidah.
The Houthi-run government in Sana’a reported that the strikes hit oil storage facilities near the shore and a nearby power plant. There were civilian casualties as a result. Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated that these strikes were necessary because the Houthis had harmed Israelis in over 200 previous attacks. This marks the first direct Israeli response to the ongoing Yemeni drone and missile attacks aimed at Israel.
The Houthi Supreme Political Council vowed to retaliate against Israel for this aggression. Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam accused Israel of trying to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza, a goal he believes won’t be achieved. General Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, warned that the group would continue targeting “vital targets” in Israel.
Hamas condemned the Israeli assault, emphasizing that Israel’s actions would have consequences. Hezbollah also expressed support for the Houthis and the Yemeni people.
Despite the distance (1,800 km or 1,120 miles) from Israel’s borders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that there is no place Israel cannot reach. However, this attack has left civilians in Yemen struggling to access basic necessities like fuel due to damage to public facilities.
The Houthis, who consider themselves Yemen’s official armed forces, have been targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Their campaign aims to pressure Israel to end its war on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 38,900 Palestinians. While most Houthi missiles and drones aimed at Israel have been intercepted, a recent Houthi drone successfully breached Israeli air defences by striking a building in Tel Aviv
