Israeli Airstrikes Hit Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Ports After Missile Attack

The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have escalated further as Israel’s military launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, intensifying fears of a broader regional conflict. The strikes came in response to missile attacks launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi group targeting Israel. This recent development adds to the already volatile situation, with Israel also conducting simultaneous military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. The conflict, which has long been simmering, now threatens to engulf more actors and regions, as Iran’s involvement and the Houthis’ alignment with Palestinian resistance movements contribute to a complex web of alliances and hostilities.

The Israeli air raids specifically targeted strategic locations at the Ras Isa and Hodeidah ports in Yemen, leaving several casualties and causing widespread damage. The Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks against Israel and Israeli-linked assets, claiming solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli assault. As both sides ramp up their military offensives, concerns are growing over the possibility of further escalation and the broader implications for the region, particularly the involvement of Iran and other key players in the Middle East.

Details of the Air Raids

• Israel’s military announced that fighter jets and other aircraft attacked power plants and port facilities at Ras Isaand Hodeidah, resulting in at least four deaths, including one port worker and three electric engineers, as reported by Al Masirah TV, which is affiliated with the Houthis.
• The airstrikes led to power outages in several areas of Hodeidah, further complicating the situation in the war-torn region.

Houthi Missile Attack and Israel’s Response

• The attack followed a ballistic missile launch by the Houthis aimed at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, which heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.
• The Houthis, backed by Iran, have consistently targeted Israel since November of last year, firing drones and missiles at Israeli infrastructure and ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The group views these attacks as acts of solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli attacks in Gaza.
• Israel’s military stated, “Over the past year, the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation.”

International Condemnation

• Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the air raids, with spokesperson Nasser Kanaani labeling them as “inhumane” and accusing the United States of supporting Israel’s crimes.
• Meanwhile, Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a journalist based in Sanaa, reported that fires had broken out at the targeted ports, with firefighters struggling to contain the blazes.

Broader Context of the Conflict

• Earlier in the month, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a hypersonic missile that reached central Israel, causing fires and triggering air raid sirens near Ben Gurion Airport. This attack was one of many recent missile strikes launched by the group.
• Israel had previously targeted the Hodeidah port in July, following a Houthi drone strike that killed a civilian in Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah and Nasrallah’s Death

• On Saturday, the Houthis mourned the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed during an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut on Friday.
• The Houthis also demanded that Israel cease its military campaign against Lebanon, which has resulted in the displacement of nearly one million people.

Source: Al-Jazeera