The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on multiple Houthi targets across Yemen on Friday, as confirmed by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. The operation targeted key infrastructure along Yemen's western coastline and deep within the country's territory.
According to the IDF, the strikes focused on several specific targets, including infrastructure at the "Hizaz" power station, which serves as central electrical infrastructure for Houthi military operations. Additional strikes targeted facilities at the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports along Yemen's western coast. The IDF stated that these targets demonstrated the Houthi regime's military use of civilian infrastructure for terrorist activities.
"The strike was carried out in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, its citizens, and civilian infrastructure, including the launching of UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles toward Israeli territory," the IDF spokesperson stated. "The State of Israel has the right and duty to defend itself."
A senior Israeli official confirmed on Friday that "Israel struck in Yemen, in an attack coordinated with the United States." This marks the first joint strike in Yemen with the Americans since the beginning of the war. According to Al-Arabiya's reporting, approximately 30 strikes were conducted against Houthi targets in Maran, Sanaa, and Hodeidah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the strikes, stating: "As we promised - the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us. Today we struck Houthi terrorist targets along the western coast and deep inside Yemen. The Houthis are an Iranian proxy serving the terrorist objectives of the Iranian axis in the Middle East. They pose a danger to Israel and the entire region, including threatening global freedom of navigation."
Netanyahu added: "I repeat: we will not tolerate attacks on our citizens and our state. We will act with determination and force against any entity that threatens the State of Israel - anywhere and anytime required."
Defense Minister Israel Katz commented after the IAF strikes: "The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed and Ras Issa port is burning - there will be no immunity for anyone, we will hunt down the Houthi terrorist organization's leaders as well. Israel's long arm reaches and will reach anywhere that harms us - including Yemen."
The IDF statement characterized the Houthi regime as "a major proxy in Iran's terrorist axis" that contributes to regional destabilization and disruption of global freedom of navigation. The military emphasized that the Houthi regime operates as an independent terror organization while relying on Iranian cooperation and funding to target Israel and its citizens. The IDF affirmed it would "continue to act powerfully and strike anyone who poses a threat to Israeli citizens, at whatever distance required."
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
0 Comments