The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) targeted a Yemeni fuel depot and port on Saturday in response to recent Houthi rebel attacks on Israel. This marks Israel’s first military action in Yemen following an attack on Tel Aviv by a Houthi drone that killed one person and injured ten others.
According to Al-Masirah, a Houthi-controlled media outlet, the Israeli strike targeted oil storage facilities at the port of Hodeidah and the province’s power station, causing “several civilian casualties and injuries,” including burn victims. The Houthi Parliament condemned the strike, framing it as an attempt to exacerbate Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis and criticized the international community’s inaction, particularly regarding Gaza.
The IDF stated that the port of Hodeidah is used by the Houthi to import Iranian weapons. The strike was aimed at hindering these imports and inflicting financial damage on the rebels. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari described the situation as a “multi-front war” with Iran funding and arming terror proxies against Israel. “Over the last nine months, the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen has launched over 200 aerial attacks against Israeli civilians and infrastructures,” he said during a press briefing, highlighting that Friday’s attack had significant civilian impact.
The Houthi Armed Forces responded by affirming that any retaliation from their side would be “substantial and significant,” signaling potential future escalation in the region (details here).
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