Israel Launches Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen Following Drone Attack
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the Israeli army has struck several Houthi targets in western Yemen in response to a drone attack claimed by the rebel group that killed one person in Tel Aviv. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that the strike on military targets in the port city of Hodeidah was in retaliation for “hundreds of attacks carried out against the state of Israel in recent months.”
The Houthi-run government in Sana’a said that the strike hit oil storage facilities and a power plant, resulting in civilian casualties. A spokesperson for the Houthis condemned the Israeli attack as “blatant aggression” and warned of retaliatory measures.
Netanyahu labeled Hodeidah as the main entry point into Yemen for weapons from Iran, the main regional backer of the Houthis. He accused the Houthis of being part of Iran’s “axis of evil” along with Hamas and Hezbollah, threatening not only Israel but the peace of the entire world. The Israeli military spokesperson emphasized that the strike was solely an IDF action and in self-defense against the Houthi attacks.
The Israeli strike on Yemen comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran’s proxies in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and militia groups in Syria. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the drone attack in Tel Aviv, as well as launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea that they claim are linked to Israel. Netanyahu has called on the international community to increase efforts against Iran and its proxies to protect international freedom of navigation.
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