In response to a deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv, Israeli fighter jets targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking Israel’s first military engagement in the country. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the airstrikes, stating they aimed at “military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime” in the vicinity of Yemen’s Hodeidah Port. According to IDF spokesperson Daniel Haggari, these strikes were a direct reaction to the killing of a 50-year-old Israeli citizen by a Houthi drone on Friday and to the roughly 200 projectiles launched by the Houthis towards Israel since October.
The Houthi-operated Al Masirah TV reported that the Israeli airstrikes had hit oil facilities on Yemen’s west coast, resulting in casualties and injuries. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the strikes, claiming they had also targeted civilian infrastructure and a power station. He labeled the attacks as “brutal Israeli aggression” intended to exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people and to coerce them into ceasing their support for Gaza.
The Houthi Supreme Political Council vowed to retaliate with “more impactful strikes” against Israel and reaffirmed its solidarity with the Palestinian people. Israeli officials justified targeting Hodeidah by identifying it as a primary conduit for Iranian weapons to Yemen. They emphasized that the bombed infrastructure served dual purposes, both civilian and terrorist.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the cost of Israeli blood, promising identical responses to any attacks on Israeli citizens. He declared that the impact of the strikes on Hodeidah was evident across the Middle East. “The first time they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required,” Gallant asserted.
Retaliatory Strikes Mark Israel’s First Military Action in Yemen
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began, the Yemeni Houthis have frequently targeted Israel with drones and missiles. Although most attacks have been intercepted by Israeli or allied defenses, the recent drone strike in Tel Aviv succeeded, killing one and injuring at least ten others. The Houthis claimed that this attack utilized a new type of drone capable of evading interception systems.
The Houthis have also consistently targeted U.S. interests and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. In response to these maritime threats, both the U.K. and U.S. have conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen. Until now, Israel had not participated in these retaliatory actions.
An Israeli defense official told that the recent strike was entirely executed by Israel. The official explained that while Israel had previously deferred to the U.S. and U.K. in responding to Houthi aggression, it chose to act independently this time due to the fatality in Tel Aviv. Defense Minister Gallant had informed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin prior to the operation.
Israel’s rapid response was possible because it had been anticipating this scenario for months, the defense official added. Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz declared that Israel had dealt a significant blow to the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and issued a stark warning to any entity considering attacks against Israel. Katz called for international efforts to intensify sanctions on Iran, accusing Tehran of supporting and financing the Houthi rebels as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region and target Israel.
Katz stated, “Iran supports, trains, and finances the Houthi terror organization as part of its regional network of terror organizations aimed at attacking Israel. Iran is the head of the snake – it must be stopped now.”
A White House official confirmed that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the latest developments in the Middle East. While the U.S. did not coordinate with Israel on the airstrikes, the White House National Security Council spokesperson affirmed that the U.S. fully supports Israel’s right to self-defense.
In May, joint U.S.-U.K. airstrikes in Hodeidah killed at least 16 people and wounded 35 others, targeting Houthi rebels. This ongoing conflict underscores the complex and volatile dynamics in the region, with significant implications for international security and diplomatic relations.
