Israel Strikes Yemen’s Hodeidah Port In Response To Houthi Drone Attack On Tel Aviv, 6 Dead & 87 Injured

Israel has launched airstrikes in Yemen, targeting the port city of Hodeidah in response to the Houthi rebels’ deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the July 19th, 2024 drone attack on Tel Aviv, which killed one Israeli citizen and injured many more.

The incident was the first time a Houthi-claimed drone targeted Tel Aviv, with the group’s spokesperson, Yahya Sare’e, claiming a new drone capable of evading detection systems.

In reaction, Israeli aircraft attacked Hodeidah on July 20, 2024, targeting oil infrastructure and a power station.

Yemeni officials said the strikes killed six people and injured 87.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the attacks as “brutal Israeli aggression” aimed at forcing the terrorist group to cease its support for Gaza.

Since Hamas’ strikes on Israel on October 7, the Houthis have increased their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Gaza.

Video Credits: GLobal News/YouTube

The situation worsened rapidly following the deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv, provoking Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are a group in Yemen’s ongoing conflict.

The group, founded in the 1990s, is affiliated with the Zaidi sect of Shia Islam and has been heavily armed and trained by Iran.

They have taken control of much of northern Yemen and have held regular ceasefire discussions with Saudi Arabia.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes, claiming that Iran was using the port of Hodeidah to transport weapons to the Houthis.

Netanyahu stated that the port they attacked was utilized for military objectives, and it served as an entrance point for Iran’s deadly weaponry delivered to the Houthis.

Following the strikes, the Houthis launched another barrage of missiles at Israel, vowing a “huge and great” response.

On July 21, 2024, the Israeli military intercepted a missile approaching from Yemen, while the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles toward the Israeli port city of Eilat.

The attacks have heightened tensions in the already unstable Middle East.

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam termed the situation an “open war,” and Houthi commander Abdul Malik al-Houthi pledged to continue assaults against Israel.

In reaction to the increasing crisis, the US and UK military have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, though Israel has not previously taken part in any retaliatory operations.

The United States has expressed its continued support for Israel’s right to self-defense.

Reference: Aljazeera, CNN

Israel Strikes Yemen’s Hodeidah Port In Response To Houthi Drone Attack On Tel Aviv, 6 Dead & 87 Injured appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

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