Israel’s military carried out lethal airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen early Thursday, following the latest assault by the Iran-backed group on Israeli territory.
According to Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, nine people were killed and three others injured in strikes that hit a port and an oil facility near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
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Earlier reports from Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV stated that the Israeli attacks targeted the Heyzaz and Dhahban power stations near Sanaa, as well as the Hodeidah port and the Ras Isa oil facility.
The Israeli military described the airstrikes as retaliation for repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel over the past year. Most of these assaults had been intercepted before causing significant damage.
“Israel’s long hand will reach you as well,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a warning to Houthi leaders following the strikes. “Whoever raises a hand against the State of Israel – his hand will be cut off, whoever harms us – will be harmed sevenfold.”
Tensions between Israel and the Houthis have intensified in recent months amid Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza, following the Palestinian militant group’s deadly attacks on October 7. Global leaders have warned of the potential for these hostilities to ignite a broader Middle East conflict.
On Thursday, air raid sirens sounded in central Israel as the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). While a school sustained damage, no injuries were reported.
The Houthis later announced that their twin missile strikes had successfully hit Israeli military targets in the Tel Aviv area. This attack is part of the group’s rejection of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians. The Houthis, who control much of Yemen’s territory, have vowed to continue targeting Israel and its allies until a ceasefire is reached in the Palestinian enclave.
In July, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a lethal drone attack in Tel Aviv, marking their first strike on the city. Israel responded the following day with deadly airstrikes on a Yemeni port, its first such attack in Yemen.
Subsequent incidents have included a missile strike deep into Israel in September and a claimed drone strike on a central Israeli building earlier this month. Although no injuries were reported in either event, the attacks have underscored the growing threat.
The United States, Israel’s key ally, has also conducted multiple strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen over the past year, including back-to-back operations in November. These actions highlight the expanding scope of regional conflict and international involvement.
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