Israeli air force retaliates with airstrikes on Houthi targets
The Israeli Air Force carried out an air raid on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the port in Hodeidah. Around 20 fighter jets were involved in the attack. The Houthis have vowed to escalate attacks on Israel in response.
What do you need to know?
- Israeli Air Force targeted Houthi locations in Yemen. Approximately 20 fighter jets took part in the raid.
- 21 people were injured as a result of the attack, according to the Houthi health ministry.
- The raid was a retaliation for Sunday's Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Why did Israel attack Houthi targets in Yemen?
The Israeli armed forces stated that the air raid on Houthi targets in Yemen was a response to the Sunday missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The ballistic missile launched by the Houthis struck Israel's largest airport for the first time, though no significant damage was caused.
In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force targeted the port in Hodeidah. The Israeli army emphasized that the port is utilized by the Houthis to import weapons and equipment from Iran for terrorist activities.
The air force also targeted a concrete factory in the city of Bajil. Israel highlighted that the plant serves as a key source of income for the "Houthi terrorist regime" and is used for constructing tunnels and military infrastructure.
Houthis promise to intensify attacks on Israel
The Houthi health ministry reported that 21 people were injured due to the Israeli air raid. Nasrudin Amer, a spokesperson for the Yemeni group, declared on social media that "the Zionist-American attacks on civilian targets" will not deter the Houthis from fighting Israel. The rebels plan to escalate attacks on Israel and the shipping routes through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Houthis support the Palestinian Hamas fight against Israel
The Houthis, recognized by the West as a terrorist organization, are part of the so-called axis of resistance supported by Iran. Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, they have executed over 100 attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen, thereby supporting the Palestinian Hamas fight against Israel. The group continues rocket and drone attacks on Israel, although most missiles are intercepted. Israel has previously conducted five strikes on the Houthis, including on the port in Hodeidah.
Since early 2024, the United States has led a coalition tasked with defending freedom of navigation threatened by Houthi attacks. In mid-March, President Donald Trump announced a new offensive, increasing the intensity of air raids on this group.
Shortly before the Israeli air raid, Yemeni media reported another US attack on the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana'a.
