Early Friday, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a missile towards Israel in retaliation for a series of Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's main airport. The Israeli military successfully intercepted the missile using its air defenses before it could breach Israeli territory. The airstrikes on Yemen's airport resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries, including a member of a U.N. plane crew who underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition.
Throughout the week, Houthi missile launches have triggered air raid sirens in Israel, with the rebels also targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 45,000 Palestinians, with a significant number being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Israeli Airstrikes Deep Inside Lebanon
Israeli warplanes conducted three airstrikes deep into eastern Lebanon, marking the second such incident since the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel ended a month ago. The strikes targeted the Bekaa Valley town of Qousaya, with the Israeli military claiming to have hit infrastructure used for smuggling weapons via Syria to Hezbollah near the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Since the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli army has engaged in various operations in southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties, property damage, and disruptions to daily life. The United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, has raised concerns over Israeli actions, including the destruction of homes and road closures.
Violence in Israel and Syria
In Israel, an 83-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by a Palestinian from the West Bank in the town of Herzliya. The incident adds to a series of attacks amid heightened tensions in the region. Meanwhile, displaced Syrians in tent camps in northwest Syria are facing dire winter conditions, with flooding damaging thousands of family tents and ongoing risks from explosive ordnance.
The situation remains volatile in the region, with ongoing conflicts and humanitarian challenges requiring urgent attention and international cooperation to ensure the safety and well-being of affected populations.
