Israeli Air Strikes on Houthi Targets Intensify After Missile Interception

Israel's military has conducted significant air strikes against military targets linked to the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, in response to missile attacks aimed at Israel. Casualties were reported in the Yemeni strikes, and the Houthi leadership asserted their commitment to retaliating against Israeli actions amidst ongoing regional conflicts.

Israel has ramped up military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen, responding to a missile attack that was intercepted over central Israel. In the aftermath, Israeli fighter jets targeted energy infrastructure and military positions in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as confirmed by an Israeli military spokesman. The strikes specifically hit Red Sea ports and energy-related facilities.

Reports from Houthi-aligned Al Masirah TV indicate that the bombardments resulted in the deaths of nine individuals in the port of Salif and at the Ras Issa oil terminal, located in Hudaydah province. This military escalation coincided with a missile launched from Yemen, which caused damage to a school and several vehicles in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.

The Houthi movement, controlling a significant part of north-western Yemen, initiated attacks on Israeli and international maritime targets following the escalation of the Gaza war in October 2023, claiming their actions were in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Since then, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting hundreds of drones and missiles directed at Israel from Yemen.

The situation escalated dramatically in the early hours of Thursday as residents of Tel Aviv and surrounding areas hurried to bomb shelters following the missile interception. Israeli authorities quickly confirmed damage to a school in Ramat Gan, sparking an investigation to clarify whether the damage was caused by the missile or debris from intercepting fire. Education Minister Yoav Kisch speculated it was due to a direct hit by intercepted ordinance.

With the situation developing rapidly, the IDF swiftly launched air strikes targeting Houthi military sites in response. Al Masirah's reports detailed significant casualties from the onslaught, including fatalities in both Salif and Ras Issa, in addition to injuries at the Hudaydah port. Damage to electricity distribution systems and fuel facilities was also reported, affecting local power supplies as noted by the General Electricity Corporation director.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari condemned the Houthis for their ongoing attacks against Israel, characterizing them as violations of international law and stressing the group’s threatening role in regional peace. The recent air strikes were described as "precise" operations aimed at neutralizing Houthi military infrastructure linked to aggressive actions against Israel.

In a show of coordinated military readiness, Israeli sources mentioned that their operation was planned, and numerous aircraft were already airborne when the missile from Yemen was launched. Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Houthi leaders, proclaiming that aggressions against Israel would prompt significant retaliatory measures.

In a counter-response, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed that they had successfully targeted sensitive military sites in Tel Aviv concurrently with the Israeli strikes, reaffirming their commitment to retaliation against what they described as Israeli aggression—linked to actions in Gaza.

This incident marks the third direct Israeli assault on Houthi positions in five months, with previous operations following assaults that originated from Yemen targeting Israeli territory. The ongoing conflict continues to draw the involvement of Western nations, with the U.S. and U.K. launching strikes on Houthi military assets in the region in response to threats against international shipping.

The Houthis’ campaign has intensified since they began to assert more aggressive operational tactics in support of Palestine amid their alignment with the ongoing war against Israel and Hamas.