Israel launched airstrikes on Huthi targets in Yemen on Friday, hitting a power station and key coastal ports in retaliation for recent missile and drone launches from the region. The Israeli government warned it would continue to target Huthi leadership in response to their actions.
The strikes followed the interception of two drones launched from Yemen on Thursday. According to the Israeli military, fighter jets targeted military sites on Yemen’s western coast and inland, including infrastructure at the Hizaz power station and the ports of Hodeida and Ras Issa.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacks served as a warning to the Huthis for their aggression. “The Huthis are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price,” he said, emphasizing that the group acts as a proxy for Iran and poses a regional threat.
Iran condemned the airstrikes, labeling them an “unprecedented attack” and accusing Israel of escalating tensions.
The Huthis, aligned with Iran, have launched over 40 missiles and approximately 320 drones at Israel since the war in Gaza began in October 2023. While most were intercepted, the strikes have disrupted civilian life, with air raid sirens frequently sounding in Israeli cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
In Yemen, the airstrikes caused significant damage, including multiple hits on the Hodeida port and the Ras Issa facility. Yemen’s Al-Masirah television station reported casualties and damage to nearby residential areas, further escalating the humanitarian crisis.
The ongoing conflict has drawn condemnation from Palestinian group Hamas, which criticized the strikes on Yemen as part of Israel’s broader regional strategy. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Britain have also responded to Huthi activities targeting Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes, occasionally conducting retaliatory strikes.
