Israel Strikes Yemeni Ports And Power Plant Amid Rising Houthi Attacks

Israeli fighter jets bombed key sites in Houthi-controlled Yemen on January 10, including the Hezyaz power station near Sanaa and the ports of Hudaydah and Ras Isa.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported that 13 airstrikes hit the Hezyaz power station, injuring three people, including a worker at the facility. Nearby homes were also damaged.

The ports of Hudaydah and Ras Isa, vital for Yemen’s oil exports and humanitarian supplies, were severely impacted.

At Ras Isa, one worker was killed, and six others were wounded, while the Hodeidah port was described as paralysed and Ras Isa engulfed in flames, according to reports.

The Israeli military acknowledged the attacks, saying that the targeted sites were being used by the Houthis for military purposes. “The State of Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself,” the military said in a statement.

The strikes come in response to a series of attacks by the Houthis, who have been firing drones and missiles at Israel and disrupting global shipping in the Red Sea.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have fired hundreds of rockets and drones toward Israel and at international vessels, including an attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Houthis are “paying a heavy price” for their aggression and pledged to continue retaliatory measures.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that no Houthi leader is immune from Israel’s retaliation. He added that the strikes had left the Hudaydah port paralysed and Ras Isa in flames, sending a strong message to the militia.

Meanwhile, Yemeni political commentator Hussain al-Bukhaiti suggested that the Houthis might increase their attacks with the use of hypersonic ballistic missiles.

The United Nations has warned that Yemen is already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions at risk of malnutrition after more than a decade of civil war.

Ports like Hudaydah are crucial for the flow of food and aid into the region, and further damage could worsen the crisis.

The United States and Britain have also conducted airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas to secure international waterways. However, despite repeated strikes, the Houthis remain defiant, continuing to launch attacks and disrupt shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have shown no signs of backing down. On Thursday, they fired three drones at Israel, which were intercepted. In recent weeks, they have intensified their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes.

Israel’s air force has carried out multiple long-range bombing missions targeting Houthi sites over the past two months.

References: Reuters, Aljazeera

Source: Maritime Shipping News