Highlights:
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Israel targets Hodeidah and Salif ports in Yemen, citing weapon transport operations.
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Israeli military conducts over 30 airstrikes, leaving one dead and nine injured.
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Defense Minister warns Houthis of a fate similar to Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Yemeni Ports, Escalate Conflict with Houthis
Israel has carried out airstrikes on two key ports in Yemen — Hodeidah and Salif — claiming they were being used to transport weapons by Houthi rebels. Yemen’s pro-Houthi TV channel, Al Masirah, confirmed the attacks, reporting that one person was killed and nine others were injured in the 30 airstrikes conducted by the Israeli military.
Following the strike, Israeli officials issued a stern warning to the Houthis. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “If the Houthi rebels continue missile attacks, they will face the same fate as Hamas’s Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah.”
Netanyahu Accuses Iran of Backing Houthis in Yemen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the airstrikes, claiming they successfully targeted Houthi terrorist infrastructure. He alleged that Iran was the primary force behind the Houthi attacks, stating, “The Houthis are just pawns; the real power behind them is Iran.”
Netanyahu warned that Israel would intensify its operations against the Houthis if the missile attacks continued.
Houthi Missile Attacks Continue Despite US Agreement
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with the Houthis on May 6th, the rebels have continued to launch missile and drone attacks on Israel.
According to Al Jazeera, at least 34 missile and drone strikes have targeted Israel since the ceasefire violation in Gaza in March. The most significant attack occurred on May 4th, when a ballistic missile struck near Ben Gurion International Airport, causing property damage.
Israel’s latest airstrikes mark the first major offensive against Houthi-controlled ports since the US-Houthi agreement. The strikes are seen as a direct response to the escalating missile threat and a signal that Israel will not hesitate to target Houthi leadership.
