Credits: TimesofIsrael
Israeli fighter jets launched an airstrike on Houthi military targets near Yemen’s Hodeidah port on Saturday, resulting in at least three fatalities and injuring 87 others. This military action comes a day after a drone attack, claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi group, struck Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic hub.
The airstrikes targeted oil facilities and a power station, causing severe burns among most of the injured, according to Al-Masirah TV, a primary news outlet of the Houthi movement. Hodeidah residents reported hearing explosions throughout the city during the bombardment, with civil defense forces and firefighters attempting to control fires in the port’s oil tanks.
An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the port had been utilized by the Houthis to receive weapon shipments from Iran. The targeted sites, located over 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Israel, included dual-use locations such as energy infrastructure. The operation was conducted by Israeli F-15 fighter jets, all of which returned safely.
Israel had notified its allies before the strike, emphasizing its response to what Israeli officials reported as over 200 Houthi attacks on Israel. This marks a significant escalation in the region, raising concerns that the ongoing Gaza conflict, initiated by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, could broaden into a larger regional war.
“The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear,” stated Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. “The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required.”
On Friday, a long-range Iranian-made drone launched from Yemen hit central Tel Aviv, killing one man and injuring four others. The Houthis’ Supreme Political Council has vowed an “effective response” to the Israeli airstrikes, with Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stating that the group “will not hesitate to strike vital targets of the Israeli enemy.”
