The Israeli military announced it bombed locations in Yemen connected to Iran-backed Houthi militias in response to a deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv that occurred on Friday.
Yesterday Yemen’s people celebrate successful drone strike on Tel Aviv.
They chant “Beloved leader, strike, strike Tel Aviv, we are ready, we give you authority! Palestine is not alone.”
Today Israel responds by bombing Yemen
What next? pic.twitter.com/bSDLTaLUbj
— Sean (@Xcellent78) July 20, 2024
In a statement, the military revealed it targeted “military objectives” in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, approximately 1,600 kilometers away, as a reaction to “hundreds of aerial threats,” including the recent attack that resulted in the death of an Israeli man and injured 10 others.
This incident marks the first time Israel has publicly acknowledged bombing Yemen, amid increasing assaults from the Houthis. The military also noted that this operation is one of the farthest strikes the Israeli Air Force has conducted from Israeli territory.
Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam responded on X, previously known as Twitter, denouncing the Israeli strikes as “blatant aggression” against Yemen. He claimed the attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, oil tanks, and an electricity station in the key port city, aiming to exacerbate the suffering of Yemeni people and pressure them to stop supporting Gaza. Abdulsalam emphasized that these actions would only “strengthen the resolve” of the Yemeni populace and their armed forces.
Mohamed Ali al-Houthi from Yemen’s Supreme Political Council warned on X of “significant retaliations.” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared they would not hesitate to target crucial Israeli sites, according to Yemeni media reports.
The health ministry in Sanaa reported that 80 people were injured, many suffering severe burns. Houthi-aligned al Masirah TV later stated that Israel’s airstrikes killed three individuals and wounded 87. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the strike as a direct countermeasure to the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv, which killed 50-year-old Yevgeny Ferder and injured 10 others.
American official: Israel is the country bombing Yemen right now.
We are approaching levels of FAFO not before seen.
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) July 20, 2024
Netanyahu justified the targeting of the port, citing its use for military purposes and as an entry point for weapons provided to the Houthis by Iran. He asserted, “It demonstrates to our adversaries that no place is beyond the reach of Israel’s long arm.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pointed out that the Houthis have attacked Israel “over 200 times.”
“This is the first time they killed an Israeli citizen, and we retaliated. We will continue to do so wherever necessary,” Gallant added.
The Houthi drone assault in Tel Aviv resulted in one death and at least 10 injuries near the US Embassy early on Friday. While Israel has intercepted most projectiles from Yemen, Friday’s incident saw an “error” as no air raid sirens were activated despite air defenses detecting the drone.
Since January, British and American forces have been striking Houthi targets in Yemen following the Houthis’ attacks on commercial ships, which the rebels claimed were in retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Notably, many of the ships attacked were not linked to Israel.
Joint airstrikes have not significantly deterred the Iran-backed Houthis. On the same Saturday, Israeli strikes in central Gaza refugee camps killed at least 13 people, including three children and one woman, as per Palestinian health officials. This occurred amidst apparent progress in ceasefire talks in Cairo.
BREAKING: YEMENI HOUTHI OFFICIAL STATEMENT
ON ISRAEL BOMBING YEMEN
Nasr El-Din Amer:
“Israeli aggression on Hodeidah Governorate and a fire in Yemen’s main port.
Yemen’s stance with Gaza is firm and will not change, and Yemeni operations supporting Gaza will not stop. The… pic.twitter.com/3ag6XUFiLn
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) July 20, 2024
Israel initiated its most intense bombardment of Gaza and a severe blockade of the 42-km strip following the October 7 Hamas attacks, which resulted in over 1,000 deaths and more than 250 hostages. Palestinian health officials report that Israel’s retaliatory bombings have since killed over 38,000 people, predominantly women and children. The United Nations has highlighted critical food shortages leading to famine in Gaza.
Let’s face facts on this. It will take President Trump to make peace in the region. Peace is impossible while Biden is paying Hamas and the Palestinians to kill Jews, while at the same time paying Israel to fight back. Each side costing America billions of dollars that we do not have. America is turning into the baddies’ as they say, on the global scene, creating war and death while Democrats are in control.
Major Points:
- The Israeli military bombed sites in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, targeting Iran-backed Houthi militias in response to a drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed one Israeli and injured ten others.
- This strike marks Israel’s first public acknowledgment of bombing Yemen and is noted as one of the furthest strikes conducted by the Israeli Air Force.
- Houthi spokespersons condemned the Israeli attacks, claiming they targeted civilian infrastructure and aimed to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza.
- The drone attack in Tel Aviv, carried out by Houthi rebels, killed one person and injured ten near the US Embassy, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
- British and American forces have been striking Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial shipping, with recent Israeli strikes killing at least 13 people in Gaza as ceasefire talks show progress.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
