On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes on military targets near Yemen's Hodeidah port, resulting in at least three fatalities and injuring 87 others. This action follows a drone attack by the Houthi rebels, an Iranian-backed group, which struck Tel Aviv the previous day.
The airstrikes focused on oil facilities and a power station in Hodeidah. According to Al-Masirah TV, the Houthi-run news outlet, many of the injured sustained severe burns. Witnesses reported widespread explosions throughout the city during the attack. The strikes also set fire to oil tanks at the port, with local civil defense and firefighters working to control the blazes.
Israel's military spokesperson indicated that the port had been used by the Houthis to receive weapon shipments from Iran. The strikes, conducted by Israeli F-15 jets, targeted dual-use sites, including energy infrastructure, located over 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Israel. The Israeli government had informed its allies prior to the operation, and all aircraft involved returned safely.
The Houthis' Supreme Political Council has vowed to retaliate against what they described as Israeli aggression. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the group would target Israeli interests as a response to the airstrikes.
This escalation highlights concerns that the ongoing conflict in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, could extend into a broader regional conflict. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant commented on the severity of the situation, stating that the strike was a direct response to over 200 Houthi attacks on Israel.
The previous day's drone attack on Tel Aviv, which resulted in one death and four injuries, was claimed by the Houthis. This strike intensified an already volatile situation, exacerbated by recent clashes between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress, calling for increased international pressure on Iran and its allies to stabilize the region and protect international trade routes.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the Israeli strikes and warned of potential regional escalation. Hezbollah also criticized the attack on Hodeidah, describing it as a dangerous development in the ongoing conflict.
The Houthis have increasingly targeted Israel and Western interests in recent months, citing solidarity with Palestinians. Their actions have disrupted global trade by forcing rerouted maritime traffic and provoking retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and Britain.
Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the Israeli strikes as an attempt to pressure Yemen into halting its support for Gaza. He claimed the attacks would only strengthen the Houthis' resolve.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have also responded, with Saudi Arabia denying involvement in the Hodeidah attacks and maintaining strict airspace security. Egypt, which is working towards a Gaza ceasefire, expressed deep concern over the Israeli action.
The conflict has seen significant casualties on both sides, with around 1,200 Israelis killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas, while nearly 39,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, according to local health authorities.
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