Houthi rebels reported nine fatalities following Israeli airstrikes.
Israeli forces launched strikes on Yemeni ports and energy infrastructure, targeting sites associated with the Houthi movement. The IDF stated these actions were in response to recent Houthi attacks.
The IDF announced the operation Thursday morning, following a Houthi missile attack that, according to an Israeli military spokesperson, prompted millions to seek bomb shelter.
The IDF stated that the airstrikes targeted sites used for military purposes, “including ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa,” Yemen’s capital.
A Houthi spokesperson confirmed the attacks on X, characterizing the targets as civilian. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, reported nine deaths: seven at Salif port and two at an oil facility in Ras Isa port. He also alleged Israeli strikes on two power stations in Sanaa, sharing images claiming to depict the aftermath.
For months, the Houthis have conducted attacks against Israel and attempted to impose a naval blockade, targeting Red Sea traffic to increase the cost of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, launched in response to a Hamas attack in October 2023.
Israel labels the Houthis as terrorists and Iranian proxies, posing a global threat due to attacks on commercial shipping, according to West Jerusalem.
Amer stated that the Yemeni attacks would not deter Houthi support for Gaza, regardless of the cost.
The US has conducted strikes in Yemen for months, citing a mission to safeguard freedom of navigation and deter attacks against its regional ally, Israel.