The air raid comes a day after a Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport
In response to a Houthi ballistic missile strike targeting Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), approximately 20 fighter jets took part in Monday’s operation, deploying at least 50 munitions against “dozens of targets,” which included the Hodeidah port complex and a concrete factory located in Bajil. The IDF identified these targets as vital to Houthi military logistics, alleging they facilitated Iranian arms shipments.
Yemeni sources report that the strikes caused at least one fatality and 35 injuries. As of Tuesday morning, rescue teams were still working to locate potential victims trapped beneath the debris.
The airstrikes occurred one day after a Houthi missile struck the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six individuals and causing temporary disruptions to air traffic.
Fresh footage shows the Israeli strikes on the Houthis cement factory in Bajil.
This is a massive factory and heavy blow.
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613)
This incident marked the first time a Houthi projectile had reached the vicinity of Israel’s primary international airport, prompting strong condemnation and threats of retaliation from Israeli officials.
Two people were killed as Israel launched 50 air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port region and a cement factory, local media report. The strikes followed a missile from Yemen that hit Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that “Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport and, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” accusing Tehran of orchestrating the attack.
The Houthis, who maintain control over a significant portion of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah, have launched numerous drones and missiles at Israeli territory and commercial vessels in the Red Sea over the past year. The group asserts that these actions are in support of Palestinians and in protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
While the United States did not directly participate in the recent Israeli airstrikes, a senior US official informed Axios journalist Barak Ravid that there was close coordination with Israel. Another official, cited by Al Jazeera, did not dismiss the possibility of non-lethal support being provided.
In a separate event, US forces reportedly conducted their own airstrikes on Monday, targeting Houthi positions near Sanaa, according to an unnamed US official who spoke with the Associated Press.
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