The IDF has confirmed that, under the guidance of the IDF Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy, IAF fighter jets carried out airstrikes on military sites in Yemen, targeting assets linked to the Houthi terrorist regime on Friday. The strikes, which occurred both along Yemen’s western coast and inland, hit key military infrastructure, including facilities at the Hizaz power station, which is a vital source of energy supporting Houthi military operations. Additional strikes were carried out on military infrastructure at the Al Hudaydah and Ras Isa ports, two strategic locations on the western coast. These actions underscore how the Houthis exploit civilian infrastructure to further their terrorist agenda.
The IDF explained, “The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror, and their attacks on international shipping vessels and routes continue to destabilize the region and the wider world.” The military further emphasized that although the Houthis operate independently, they rely heavily on Iranian backing to execute their attacks on Israel and its citizens, stating, “While the Houthi terrorist regime operates as an independent terrorist organization, it relies on Iranian cooperation and funding to attack the State of Israel and its citizens.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stance, saying, “As we have pledged, the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us. We attacked today terrorist targets of the terrorist Houthis regime in the western coastal strip and in the depths of Yemen. The Houthis are a branch of Iran and they serve the terrorist goals of the Iranian axis in the Middle East. They constitute a danger to Israel and the entire region, including the freedom of the world’s shipping lanes. I repeat: We will not tolerate any threat to our citizens and our state. We will act with determination and force against any element that threatens the State of Israel – wherever and whenever it is required.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also addressed the airstrikes, stating, “The IDF’s attack today in Yemen is a clear and sharp message to the leader of the Houthi terrorist organization Abd al-Malik al-Houthi and the heads of the terrorist organization Houthi in Yemen: there will be no immunity for anyone. We will hunt you and destroy the terrorist infrastructure you have established. The long arm of Israel will reach you wherever you are. Thousands of Houthis participating in a hate parade against Israel heard the power of the Israeli Air Force at close range. The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed, the port of Ras Isa is burning, and the message is clear: whoever harms Israel will be repaid sevenfold.”
Simultaneously, reports indicated that both U.S. and British forces also conducted strikes, with Al Arabiya noting that underground targets in Yemen’s Amran region were targeted. Additionally, the Houthi-run al-Masira network reported that airstrikes were carried out near Saba’in Square in the capital of Yemen, where the Houthis were holding their weekly Gaza rally.
This marks Israel’s fourth strike on Yemen since the conflict began, with previous airstrikes occurring in July, September, and December. The latest attack saw the IAF targeting both Sana’a International Airport and the al-Hudaydah seaport, while reports from al-Masira also indicated that Israel had struck oil installations within Yemen.
Earlier in the week, the IDF intercepted two UAVs launched by the Houthi terrorist group, which came within moments of each other. One UAV breached Israeli airspace, triggering sirens in the western Negev, while the other was intercepted over the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, the IDF disclosed that since the war’s onset, the Houthis have launched around 40 surface-to-surface missiles toward Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s Aerial Defense Array. Of the launches, one missile made contact with the ground, and two partial interceptions led to debris falling in nearby areas. The rest of the missiles failed to reach Israeli territory.
Furthermore, the Houthi terrorist regime has launched about 320 UAVs toward Israel, with over 100 of these intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. The IDF has reported that two of these UAVs successfully hit their targets. The remaining UAVs either fell in open areas, did not make it to Israeli airspace, or caused minimal damage.
{Matzav.com}