Israel Strikes Yemen's Hodeidah in Retaliation for Houthi Drone Attack
ICARO Media Group
In a retaliatory move, Israel has conducted a series of air strikes on Yemen's coastal city of Hodeidah, targeting oil storage facilities and a power plant, according to reports from the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV. The attack comes just a day after the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a drone attack that resulted in one fatality in Tel Aviv.
The air strikes, reportedly attributed to Israel by Al-Masirah TV, have set off a fire in the area and caused casualties, including fatalities, as confirmed by health officials. The specific number of casualties has not been disclosed at this time.
The Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, consider themselves as Yemen's official armed forces. They have been targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea in an attempt to pressure Israel into ending its conflict with Gaza. Their attacks have included the launching of ballistic missiles and drones, with the majority being intercepted by Israeli defenses.
However, in a major security breach, a Houthi drone loaded with explosives managed to evade Israeli air defenses and struck a building in Tel Aviv early on Friday. Israel has vowed to respond to this attack, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stating that they "will settle the score" with anyone who jeopardizes their security.
The United States and United Kingdom have been conducting airstrikes in Yemen in response to the Houthi group's Red Sea assaults. Despite months of military campaign, these efforts have failed to halt the Yemeni group's attacks.
This is a developing story and more details are expected to emerge.