Israel has launched an all-out air assault on Yemen’s Houthis striking targets in a raid using dozens of aircraft.
The IDF confirmed that the strike was the most powerful against the terror group since it joined the widening Middle East war following the October 7 attack in Israel last year.
The targets of the strikes were oil reserves in Ras Issa and also the port of Hodeidah, according to Israeli army sources.
Additionally, power plants were also struck in the devastating attacks carried out by Israel’s air force.
The Houthi Health Ministry said the attack had killed four of its fighters and injured another 29. They said the strikes had indiscriminately targeted civilians.
“Israeli aggression targets the city of Hodeidah,” Houthi-owned Lebanese media Al Masirah posted.
Dozens of Israeli aircraft, including F-15I fighter planes, participated in the operation, striking 1,800 kilometres from Israeli territory.
The strikes appear to be in retaliation for attacks on Israel carried out by the Houthis last week.
Three missiles were fired at Tel Aviv and central areas of the country, following Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, which killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Israel’s Chief of the General Staff warned the Houthis that his country’s military had the means to hit them very hard.
Herzi Halevi said, “We know how to reach very far, we know how to reach even farther, and we know how to strike there with precision.”
“I’m looking at the axis, led by Iran, with Hezbollah as a very central factor,” he continued.
“Hezbollah has been hit very hard in the last month, the last two weeks, and the last three days, it has lost its head, and we need to keep hitting Hezbollah hard. This is the main focus, and we must also adapt our tools for other places.”
The Houthis denounced the attacks, calling them “American-backed Zionist aggression” and vowed to continue supporting the people of Gaza and Lebanon.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, also condemned the strikes, saying they had targeted a power plant and fuel tanks.
