On Saturday, July 20th, Israel sent F-15 fighter jets to launch airstrikes near the Hodeidah port in Yemen targeting Houthi armed group’s objectives. The day before, Iran-backed Houthi militants had launched drones to attack Tel Aviv, the economic center of Israel.
For the past few months, Houthi militants have launched hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicle and missile attacks on Israel from Yemen. Saturday’s airstrike marks Israel’s first direct military response.
According to the main television news agency operated by the Yemeni Houthi group, Al-Masirah TV quoted the Health Ministry as saying that the airstrike targeted the oil facilities and power station in Hodeidah port, resulting in at least 3 deaths and 87 injuries, mostly burn victims.
An Israeli military spokesperson stated that the Houthi militants had been using this port to receive weapons from Iran. The spokesperson mentioned that the targets of the attack included Houthi armed group’s energy infrastructure and dual-use facilities.
Israel had informed its allies before the attack, and the military confirmed that the airstrike was carried out by Israeli F-15 fighters with all aircraft returning safely.
The Supreme Political Council of the Houthi armed group vowed to provide an “effective response” to Israel’s attack. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that they would not hesitate to target important Israeli assets.
Israeli officials disclosed that Houthi militants had launched over 200 attacks on Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in a release: “The Houthis have attacked us over 200 times. We hit them the first time they hurt Israeli citizens, and we will continue to do so wherever necessary.”
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: “After 9 months of airstrikes by Yemen’s Houthi militants against Israel, Israeli Air Force jets conducted large-scale combat strikes on military targets of Houthi terrorists 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) away, targeted in the Hodeidah port area.”
The statement emphasized that the IDF has the capability to operate anywhere needed to combat any military force that threatens the Israeli people.
On Friday, an Iranian-made long-range drone launched from Yemen attacked the central city of Tel Aviv, resulting in one death and four injuries. The Houthi armed group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israeli military officials mentioned that the IDF had detected the incoming drone but did not attempt to shoot it down due to “human error.”
Previously, almost all missiles and drones launched by the Houthi armed group towards Israel had been intercepted, with none hitting Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for increased pressure on Iran and its proxies, including the Houthi armed group, Hamas, and Hezbollah, to ensure the security of international trade routes. Netanyahu stated, “Anyone who wants to see stability and security in the Middle East needs to oppose the evil axis of Iran and support Israel in its fight against Iran and its proxies.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned Israel’s airstrike. He warned that the tension in the region might escalate due to the dangerous adventurism of Jewish nationalists, potentially leading to war spreading.
Hezbollah, in a statement, also condemned Israel’s attack on the Hodeidah port, stating that the confrontation had entered a new and dangerous phase.
The chief negotiating representative of the Houthi armed group, Mohammed Abdulsalam, stated, “Israel has carried out a brutal aggression against the civilian buildings, oil facilities, and power stations in Hodeidah port in an attempt to force Yemen to stop supporting Gaza.”
As the Gaza conflict continues, the Houthi armed group has intensified its attacks on Israeli and Western targets. They have started targeting Western vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The turmoil in the Red Sea has compelled ship owners to change routes, moving away from the Suez Canal, impacting global trade and prompting retaliatory measures from US and UK military forces.
Egypt has been working towards facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiating the release of hostages. Egypt expressed deep concern over Israel’s Saturday attack.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters and the BBC.)