Israeli air force strikes Houthi targets after airport hit
The Israeli air force conducted an air raid on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the port of Hodeidah. Approximately 20 fighter jets participated in the attack. The Houthis vow to intensify attacks on Israel.
What do you need to know?
- Israeli air force targeted Houthi locations in Yemen with about 20 fighter jets involved in the raid.
- 21 people were injured as a result of the attack, according to the Houthi health ministry.
- The raid was a response to 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 hit Israel's largest airport for the first time, though it did not cause significant damage.
In response, the Israeli air force struck the port of Hodeidah. The targeted port is used by the Houthis to import weapons and equipment from Iran for terrorist purposes, as emphasised by the Israeli army.
The air force also attacked a concrete factory in the city of Bajil. Israel noted that the plant is a significant source of income for the "Houthi terrorist regime" and is also utilised for the construction of tunnels and military infrastructure.
Houthis promise to intensify attacks on Israel
As a result of the Israeli air raid, 21 people were injured, the Houthi health ministry reported. A spokesman for the Yemeni group, Nasrudin Amer, declared on social media that "the Zionist-American attacks on civilian targets" will not deter the Houthis from fighting Israel. The rebels plan to increase attacks on Israel and the shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Houthis support Palestinian Hamas fight against Israel
The Houthis, recognised by the West as a terrorist organisation, 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 launched over 100 attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen, thereby supporting the Palestinian Hamas's fight against Israel. The group continues rocket and drone attacks on Israel, though most are intercepted. Israel has previously carried out five strikes on the Houthis, including on the port of Hodeidah.
Since early 2024, the United States has led a coalition tasked with defending the 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.
