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In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled military sites in Yemen in retaliation to a ballistic missile fired toward Israel.
The attack, carried out by 14 Israeli fighter jets, targeted key Houthi infrastructure in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, and other regions in the country’s western Hodeidah province.
According to the IDF, the strikes were aimed at crippling the Houthis’ ability to smuggle Iranian weapons into Yemen and further disrupt their military operations.
Targets included ports, energy infrastructure, and large ships that play a vital role in Houthi logistics. The airstrikes were carried out under the direction of the Israeli Navy and the Intelligence Directorate.
The IDF confirmed that the strikes hit multiple locations, including Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and smaller ports like Al-Salif.
Special emphasis was placed on attacking eight large ships crucial to the Houthis’ operations, which the IDF believes will take significant time to replace, severely hindering the group’s ability to maintain its maritime operations.
At the same time, Israel’s air defense system successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis, which had been heading toward central Israel.
The missile attack was part of an ongoing series of Houthi assaults against Israel, which have seen over 200 ballistic missiles and more than 170 drones launched at the country in recent months.
While most of these projectiles have been intercepted, some have managed to breach Israel’s defenses, causing fatalities, including the death of an Israeli citizen in Tel Aviv in July.
The airstrikes came just hours after the missile attack, with the IDF taking preemptive action. Sources close to the matter told The Jerusalem Post that Israel had notified the United States prior to the strike, signaling its commitment to neutralizing Houthi threats emanating from Yemen.
The IDF indicated that the Houthis’ sustained missile attacks on Israel had left them with no choice but to take decisive action.
The strikes have reportedly resulted in at least nine Houthi casualties, with Al Masirah, the Houthi-controlled media outlet, confirming that seven were killed in a strike on the port of Salif, and the rest in attacks on the Ras Isa oil facility. Additionally, power stations south and north of Sana’a were targeted.
In a statement following the operation, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Israel from all threats.
“I warn the leaders of the Houthi terrorist organization: Israel’s long arm will reach you as well. Those who raise a hand against the State of Israel will have their hand severed, and those who harm us will be struck sevenfold,” Katz said.
“We will strike with force and will not allow attacks or threats against the State of Israel.”
This latest round of violence marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Houthi rebels. Israel has vowed to continue its efforts to neutralize all sources of hostility, regardless of their location, as tensions in the region persist.