Israel has conducted its first airstrike on Yemen following a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries. The airstrikes were a response to the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv, which killed one Israeli and injured several others.
The IDF stated that the airstrikes were aimed at military targets used by the Houthi rebels and associated with Iranian arms smuggling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the action, asserting that the port had been used to facilitate the supply of weapons to the Houthis and to attack international shipping.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group, condemned the strikes as a severe escalation and an attack on civilian infrastructure. They reported that the strikes had hit oil facilities and a power station. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam criticized the Israeli action as an attempt to exacerbate the suffering of Yemeni civilians and urged further retaliation. Houthi army spokesperson Yehya Saree promised continued attacks on Israeli targets.
The conflict between Israel and the Houthis marks a new front in a regional conflict already strained by the ongoing war in Gaza and heightened tensions with other Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah. The Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea since early October, following the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.
On Sunday, the IDF reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, while the Houthis claimed further missile launches in retaliation. The situation underscores the increasing complexity of regional dynamics, as Israel and its allies face multiple fronts of conflict involving various state and non-state actors.
Perspective 1:
This perspective focuses on the Israeli military’s justification for its airstrikes on Yemen, stating that the attacks were a response to the Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv. It emphasizes that Israel’s actions were aimed at military targets and were intended to demonstrate its capability and resolve to respond to threats. Israeli officials argue that the Hodeidah port was used for military purposes and weapon smuggling, which justified the strike
Perspective 2:
This perspective highlights the Houthi rebels’ response and condemnation of the Israeli strikes. The Houthis view the airstrikes as a form of “brutal aggression” and an escalation of the conflict, claiming that civilian targets and critical infrastructure were hit. They also warn of further retaliation and vow to continue their attacks against Israeli and allied targets, emphasizing their solidarity with Gaza.