Israel Retaliates Against Houthis in Yemen Following Drone Attack on Tel Aviv

July 21, 2024: New Delhi: On Saturday, Israeli air raids on the Yemeni city of Hodeidah resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to dozens of others, according to the Ministry of Health in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The airstrikes, first from Israel, came as a direct response to a drone attack on Tel Aviv by the Houthi group the previous day.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the strikes were meant to deliver a clear message to the Houthi movement. "The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East, and the significance is clear," Gallant said. T

The Houthi-run media reported that the Israeli airstrikes targeted oil storage facilities in Hodeidah, resulting in an unspecified number of casualties.

The Israeli military confirmed that it struck "military targets" belonging to the Houthis in retaliation for the attacks on Israel.

The drone attack on Friday in Tel Aviv killed one person and injured at least ten others. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailed the operation, codenamed "Outstretched Arm," which involved Israeli Air Force fighter jets striking Houthi targets over 1,800 kilometres away in Hodeidah. The IDF emphasized its capability to strike any force that threatens Israelis.

Defense Minister Gallant underscored the severity of the situation, stating, "The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. We will continue to respond wherever necessary."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the nation, reaffirming Israel's commitment to self-defence. "Anyone who harms us will pay a very heavy price for their aggression," he declared, noting that the port of Hodeidah is considered an entry point for Iranian weapons.

Media reported that Houthi official Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the Israeli strikes as "brutal aggression against Yemen," claiming the attacks were intended to pressure the Houthis to cease supporting Palestinians in Gaza, a stance the Houthis vowed to maintain.

This marks the first direct Israeli response to what it claims have been hundreds of Yemeni drone and missile attacks in recent months. Footage from Hodeidah showed massive fires, with the Houthi-run government in Sanaa reporting strikes on oil storage facilities and a power plant.

The drone attack in Tel Aviv involved an Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) modified for long-distance flight, BBC reported. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed a 50-year-old recent immigrant from Belarus and injured eight others. An Israeli military official attributed the failure to intercept the drone to "human error."

In response to the airstrikes, the Houthi Supreme Political Council announced plans for an "effective response." While Israel has not previously struck the Houthis in Yemen, the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted airstrikes against the group to curb attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.