Israeli warplanes strike Houthi targets in Yemen after Tel Aviv attack

JERUSALEM,— Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Houthi military targets near Yemen’s Hodeidah port on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals and injuries to 87 others.

This strike followed an attack by an Iranian-backed Houthi drone on Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic center, just a day prior.

Al-Masirah TV, operated by Yemen’s Houthi movement, reported that many of the wounded suffered severe burns due to airstrikes that hit oil facilities and a power station. Hodeidah residents informed Reuters that the city experienced heavy explosions during the intense bombardment. Civil defense forces and firefighters were actively working to extinguish fires in the port’s oil tanks, according to Al-Masirah TV.

An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the port was being utilized by the Houthis to receive weapon shipments from Iran. The strikes targeted dual-use sites, including energy infrastructure, located over 1,700 kilometers from Israel. The operation involved Israeli F-15 fighters, which all returned safely, and was preceded by notification to Israel’s allies.

In response to the strikes, the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council promised an “effective response,” while Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the Houthis “will not hesitate to strike vital targets of the Israeli enemy.”

The Israeli attack on Yemen comes after more than 200 Houthi assaults on Israel, highlighting fears that the Gaza war, which began with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, could escalate into a broader regional conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked on the widespread impact of the conflict, noting that the events in Hodeidah were significant across the Middle East.

“The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The moment they harmed an Israeli citizen, we retaliated. And we will continue to do so wherever necessary,” Gallant stated.

On Friday, a long-range Iranian-made drone launched from Yemen hit central Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring four others. This attack coincided with increased daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. It also occurred as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared for a visit to Washington, where he is set to address the U.S. Congress.

Netanyahu urged the international community to increase pressure on Tehran and its proxies, including the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah, to secure international trade routes. “To ensure a stable and secure Middle East, it is essential to oppose Iran’s influence and support Israel’s actions against Iran and its allies,” Netanyahu emphasized.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the Israeli strikes and cautioned against the potential for increased regional tension and conflict. Iranian state media reported Kanaani’s warning against what he described as the “dangerous adventurism of the Zionists.”

Hezbollah also criticized the attack on Hodeidah, labeling it as “a foolish step” that introduces a new and dangerous phase in the ongoing confrontation. The group described the situation as extremely important and ongoing.

Fire erupted following Israeli strikes in the Yemeni Houthis-held port city of Hodeida, Yemen, July 20, 2024. Photo: Houthi Media Centre/via Reuters

As the Gaza conflict persists, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Israel and Western targets, citing solidarity with the Palestinians. Their actions include assaults on Western ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which have disrupted global trade by necessitating the rerouting of vessels away from the Suez Canal. These attacks have prompted retaliatory strikes by U.S. and British forces since February.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief negotiator for the Houthi movement, condemned the Israeli aggression on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the strikes on civilian buildings, oil facilities, and a power station in Hodeidah aimed to pressure Yemen into ceasing support for Gaza. He asserted that such actions would only bolster their determination and steadfastness.

A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defense clarified that Saudi Arabia was not involved in or supporting the targeting of Hodeidah and emphasized that the kingdom would not permit any party to infiltrate its airspace.

Egypt, which has been actively working to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release deal, expressed significant concern over the Israeli strike.

On October 7, 2023, gunmen from the Islamic Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the international community, conducted a brutal assault on southern Israeli communities and military bases. This attack, which was reminiscent of ISIS-style tactics, resulted in the tragic death of over 1,200 people. According to Israeli military reports, Hamas is currently holding 250 hostages in Gaza.

In response, Israel launched a military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas, the governing Islamist faction in Gaza. The Israeli government has vowed to eradicate Hamas in retaliation for what is considered the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israeli history.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, Egypt, the European Union, Israel, and Japan.

Recent estimates from Gaza health officials aligned with Hamas claim that over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. However, these figures are widely regarded as unreliable due to the officials’ affiliations with Hamas, and the actual number of Gazan fatalities is believed to be significantly lower.

(With files from Reuters)