In a significant escalation, Israeli warplanes struck the Huthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeida on Saturday, a day after a drone attack by Huthi rebels killed a civilian in Tel Aviv. The strikes, which triggered a raging fire and plumes of black smoke, are the first claimed by Israel in Yemen, marking a new phase in the conflict.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant declared the retaliatory action, saying, “The blood of Israeli citizens has a price.” Gallant warned of more operations against the Iran-backed Huthis if further attacks occur.”The fire currently burning in Hodeida is seen across the Middle East, and the significance is clear,” he added.
The Israeli military confirmed its warplanes targeted “military objectives of the Huthi terrorist regime” in response to the drone attack in Tel Aviv, which breached Israel’s air defenses.
Israeli “fighter jets struck military targets of the Huthi terrorist regime in the area of Hodeida port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the state of Israel in recent months,” the military said, as reported by AFP.
Huthi official Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the strikes, calling them a “brutal Israel aggression against Yemen.” He claimed the attack targeted “fuel storage facilities and a power plant” to pressure Yemen to cease support for Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. The Huthi-run health ministry reported deaths and injuries but did not provide specific numbers.
Al Masirah television, operated by the Huthis, aired footage of a massive blaze on the seafront, with a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky. AFP also reported several large explosions were heard and smoke was seen over the port.
The strikes have exacerbated fears about Yemen’s already critical food security and humanitarian situation. Hodeida port, a crucial entry point for imports and international aid, has been a lifeline for millions of Yemenis suffering from over a decade of war.
“This will likely be perceived by many Yemenis as an attack on their homeland, which could bolster Huthi recruitment and funding,” said Mohammed Albasha, senior Middle East analyst for the US-based Navanti Group. He added that traders fear the strikes will worsen the humanitarian crisis in northern Yemen, as most trade flows through this port.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for “maximum restraint” after the Tel Aviv drone strike to avoid further regional escalation. However, Huthi politburo member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti quickly threatened revenge for the Hodeida strikes. “The Zionist entity will pay the price for targeting civilian facilities, and we will meet escalation with escalation,” he posted on social media.
The Huthis have previously claimed attacks on Israeli cities, including Ashdod, Haifa, and Eilat, but Friday’s strike on Tel Aviv was the first to breach Israel’s vaunted air defenses.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant declared the retaliatory action, saying, “The blood of Israeli citizens has a price.” Gallant warned of more operations against the Iran-backed Huthis if further attacks occur.”The fire currently burning in Hodeida is seen across the Middle East, and the significance is clear,” he added.
The Israeli military confirmed its warplanes targeted “military objectives of the Huthi terrorist regime” in response to the drone attack in Tel Aviv, which breached Israel’s air defenses.
Israeli “fighter jets struck military targets of the Huthi terrorist regime in the area of Hodeida port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the state of Israel in recent months,” the military said, as reported by AFP.
Huthi official Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the strikes, calling them a “brutal Israel aggression against Yemen.” He claimed the attack targeted “fuel storage facilities and a power plant” to pressure Yemen to cease support for Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. The Huthi-run health ministry reported deaths and injuries but did not provide specific numbers.
Al Masirah television, operated by the Huthis, aired footage of a massive blaze on the seafront, with a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky. AFP also reported several large explosions were heard and smoke was seen over the port.
The strikes have exacerbated fears about Yemen’s already critical food security and humanitarian situation. Hodeida port, a crucial entry point for imports and international aid, has been a lifeline for millions of Yemenis suffering from over a decade of war.
“This will likely be perceived by many Yemenis as an attack on their homeland, which could bolster Huthi recruitment and funding,” said Mohammed Albasha, senior Middle East analyst for the US-based Navanti Group. He added that traders fear the strikes will worsen the humanitarian crisis in northern Yemen, as most trade flows through this port.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for “maximum restraint” after the Tel Aviv drone strike to avoid further regional escalation. However, Huthi politburo member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti quickly threatened revenge for the Hodeida strikes. “The Zionist entity will pay the price for targeting civilian facilities, and we will meet escalation with escalation,” he posted on social media.
The Huthis have previously claimed attacks on Israeli cities, including Ashdod, Haifa, and Eilat, but Friday’s strike on Tel Aviv was the first to breach Israel’s vaunted air defenses.