Sana
One day after the deadly Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, the Israeli military said it had responded with an immediate counterstrike in Yemen. “Israeli warplanes have struck military targets of the Houthi terror regime in the port of Hodeidah,” the military said on its Telegram channel. It was in response “to hundreds of attacks on Israel in recent months.” The military does not provide information on deaths or injuries in such cases.
Houthis predict “long war” with Israel
Two Houthi spokesmen confirmed an Israeli attack on “civilian facilities” in Yemen. The targets were oil and power plants. A fire broke out in the key port. The Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television station, citing the health authority, said 80 people had been injured so far, most of them with severe burns. An earlier report also mentioned deaths.
Houthi military spokesman Jahja Sari said the militia was preparing for a “long war” with Israel.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced that Israel carried out the airstrike alone and that allies such as the United States were not involved. When asked, a spokesman for the National Security Council in Washington said that the US was not involved in the attacks; it did not coordinate them or support Israel. Since the drone attack on Tel Aviv, there has been regular contact with the Israelis and Israel’s right to self-defense is fully recognized.
Images on social media showed a large fire at the port, with high flames and a dark column of smoke in the sky. According to the Saudi-funded news channel Al-Arabiya, 12 Israeli aircraft were involved in the attack, including F-35 fighter jets.
Strategically important port
Yemen has been in the grip of a civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis for years, with around 80 percent of the population dependent on some form of aid. According to the UN, around 70 percent of all imports and 80 percent of all humanitarian aid enter the country through the strategically important Red Sea port of Hudaydah.
A man was killed and at least eight others were injured on Friday when a combat drone struck central Tel Aviv. The explosive-laden drone hit a residential building, the Magen David Adom rescue service announced on the online platform X. The military said the long-range drone came from Yemen. The Houthi militia called the attack on a “key target” in Tel Aviv. Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant announced retaliatory measures.
For months, the Houthi militia has primarily attacked merchant ships in the region that it believes have ties to Israel. According to its own statements, the Iran-aligned militia is acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war. The militia has also directly attacked Israeli targets with rockets and drones, including the port city of Eilat. However, most of these projectiles were blocked.
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