Israeli warplanes bombed ports and a power plant in Houthi-held Yemen on Friday, the Israeli military said in a last-ditch effort. An armed group supported by Iran Cease fire on Israel and merchant ships in the Red Sea.
In response to the repeated attacks of the Yemeni militias, who fired at Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, Israel increased its strikes against the Houthis in recent weeks.
United States and England They also hit Yemen repeatedly to protect international waterways from Houthi attacks. But it was unclear whether Israel and its allies could successfully force the Houthis to end their offensive through a bombing campaign.
The Israeli Air Force bombed the Hijaz power plant near the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana'a, where thousands of Yemenis gathered for a weekly solidarity rally with the Palestinians. The Israeli army said in a statement that Yemen's main oil export terminal Hudeidah and Ras Isa ports were also attacked.
Experts have warned that attacks on ports such as Hodeidah, a key conduit for essential supplies in northern Yemen, are possible. it gets worse it is already one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. According to the UN, millions of people in Yemen, which has been torn by a civil war for more than a decade, are at risk of food shortages.
The Israeli army said it hit the facilities used by the Houthis for military purposes. According to al-Masira, which is affiliated with the Houthis, a worker was injured at the Hizyaz power plant. There are no other reports of serious casualties.
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that “the port of Hodeidah is paralyzed and the port of Ras Isa is on fire.” “The message is clear: anyone who harms Israel will be hit tenfold.”
The Houthis are more than 1,000 miles from Israeli territory and have survived numerous efforts to defeat them since they came to power in Yemen's decade-long civil war. The United States calls the Houthis a terrorist group, and some of its regional allies, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have targeted them.
On October 7, 2023, the Houthis fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel after a Hamas-led attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war. They have it too hampered global shipping By firing on passing trade barges in a self-proclaimed effort to impose a blockade against Israel.
Over the past two months, the Houthis have stepped up their attacks, sending Israelis into central Israel rushing to bomb shelters late at night as air raid sirens blare. On Thursday, the Houthis fired three drones into Israeli territory; The Israeli army said that they had stopped all of them.
Israel has responded by repeatedly bombing Yemen – sending its fighters more than 1,000 miles away – but has struggled to resolutely subdue the Houthis. The United States and its allies have also struck the Houthis repeatedly over the past year without decisively deterring them from further attacks.
“The Houthis are paying a heavy price for their aggression against us and will continue to pay,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Friday's strikes.
On Friday, Mr. Katz threatened to kill the group's leader, Abdul-Malik al-Hussein, and other commanders.
“No one is immune,” Mr. Katz said. “We will hunt you down and destroy the terrorist infrastructure you have built. “Wherever you are, the long arm of Israel will reach you.”
Jonathan ReissHe prepared a report from Tel Aviv.