JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military intercepted a missile fired from Yemen early Sunday, following Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in response to a deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv. The airstrikes marked Israel's first known response to repeated Houthi attacks during the nine-month war against Hamas, potentially opening a new front as Israel confronts Iranian proxies in the region.
The Israeli army confirmed late Saturday's airstrikes in Hodeidah, Yemen, a Houthi stronghold, using U.S.-made F-15 and F-35 warplanes. The strikes were a response to numerous Houthi attacks, with the Israeli military stating that the area targeted was used for delivering Iranian arms to Yemen.
The Ministry of Health in Sanaa reported 80 people wounded in the strikes, most with severe burns. Israel's defense minister vowed to conduct similar strikes as needed. The ongoing clashes between Israel and various Iranian-backed groups have escalated tensions in the region.
The Hodeidah port serves as a crucial entry point for supplies into war-torn Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been embroiled in a proxy war with Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2014. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, claiming over 150,000 lives and displacing many more.
Houthi spokespersons condemned the Israeli aggression, stating that the attacks aimed to increase the suffering of the Yemeni people. The Houthis vowed to support Gaza despite the strikes, emphasizing their determination to resist external pressure.
The Israeli military successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile fired on Sunday before it reached Israeli territory. U.S. and U.K. forces have been targeting Houthi positions in response to attacks on commercial shipping, with recent assaults on a Liberia-flagged vessel in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have been accused of receiving support from Iran, with analysts noting their possession of long-range missiles and drones capable of reaching southern Israel. Despite joint airstrikes, the Houthi attacks persist, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the region.
These developments highlight the ongoing tensions and conflicts in the Middle East, with various actors vying for influence and power amidst a backdrop of violence and instability.
