Israel Strikes Yemen Following Deadly Drone Attack On Tel Aviv

Betokening a widened regional war, at least 25 Israeli warplanes struck targets in Yemen today, which has been dominated by Houthi rebels backed by Iran. The bombing came just one day after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a deadly drone strike on Tel Avi, on Israel’s coast.

“A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah (Hodeidah) Port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the state of Israel in recent months,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement read. This is the first time that Israel has been known to strike Yemen directly, even while the United States and United Kingdom have responded to the terrorists in the past.

This came just after the Houthi Al Masirah TV gave reports of bombing strikes on oil facilities in Hodeidah, on Yemen’s coast in the southwest corner of the Arabian peninsula. The outlet claimed that deaths and injuries resulted. According to Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam, the airstrike hit a power station and civilians. He denounced what he termed “brutal Israeli aggression” that will increase the “suffering of the people of Yemen.”

On July 19, the Houthi drone attack killed one civilian and injured approximately 12 more. 

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said “the blood of Israeli citizens has a price,” and that when Israelis are attacked, the “result will be identical” to that in Lebanon and Gaza. “The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear,” Gallant said. “The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required.”

Gallant’s statement on Twitter:

“"I have just left the IAF Command Center where I met with the Prime Minister, IDF Chief of the General Staff and the Air Force Commander and closely monitored the strike conducted by IAF aircraft on the Hodeidah Port [in Yemen], 2000 kilometers from the State of Israel. The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah, is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear. The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required. The blood of Israeli citizens has a price. This has been made clear in Lebanon, in Gaza, in Yemen, and in other places - if they will dare to attack us, the result will be identical."
 

The Houthis terrorists, which have destroyed NATO warships, commercial shipping and petroleum vessels passing through the narrow strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa, said that the attack was retribution for Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have been engaged for months following the Oct. 7 deadly terror attack by Hamas and allies on Israel. This is not the first time that the Houthis have attacked israel, having launched missiles and drones at Israeli territory. Some have been intercepted by NATO naval vessels while others have been downed by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. 

According to CNN, Israeli souces claim that that this attack was entirely Israel’s. The US and UK had previously led responses to Houthi attacks. This time, Israel decided to attack because of the death of an Israeli citizen. Defense Minister Gallant informed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin before the strike was carried out. Reportedly, Israel had prepared the strike for months in advance. At least 16 people were killed and a further 35 wounded in May by American and British strikes in Hodeidah that targetted the Houthis.

In related news, despite Israel's strike on the Houthis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still plans to meet President Joe Biden in Washington DC next week. Netanyahu is also scheduled to address a joint session of Congress, and is expected to meet former president Donald Trump. The visit is expected to arouse controversy among some members of Congress. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said this week that he will not countenance disruptions of the speech planned by Democrats, and will add additional sergeants-at-arms to quell protests in the chambers of Congress.