The Middle East conflict took a new turn this weekend as Israel launched its first-ever airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This bold move came in response to a deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv.
On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets struck military installations near Yemen’s Al Hudaydah Port. According to NBC News, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that these strikes were a direct response to “hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months” by the Houthi rebels.
The impact was immediately felt in Yemen. Dr. Anees Alasbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health in Sanaa, reported three fatalities and at least 87 injuries, many suffering severe burns. Local media described widespread power outages and a large fire at the port.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the action, stating,
“The port we attacked is not an innocent port. It was used for military purposes, it was used as an entry point for deadly weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran.”
This retaliation follows a Houthi-claimed drone attack in Tel Aviv on Friday, which killed one Israeli civilian and injured several others. The attack targeted an area near a U.S. Embassy branch office.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen, have been launching attacks on Israel and disrupting shipping in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. This latest exchange expands the ongoing conflict, with Israel striking targets over 1,800 km from its borders.
International reaction has been cautious. The United Nations Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the strikes, calling for all parties to avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The United States, while not coordinating on these strikes, acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense.
Both sides have threatened further action. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam declared that the attacks would only strengthen their resolve to support Gaza, while Israeli officials warned of their capability to reach distant threats.