The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said that their airstrikes targeted a fuel depot in the Houthi-controlled Al-Hudaydah port in western Yemen. The operation aimed at Houthi military sites was confirmed by the IDF on Saturday. “IDF fighter jets recently struck Houthi terrorist military targets near the Al-Hudaydah port in Yemen, responding to numerous attacks against Israel in the past months,” stated the IDF.
These strikes are reportedly the first Israeli actions on Yemeni territory since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October. On July 19, Houthi rebels launched four drones and a ballistic missile towards Tel Aviv, resulting in one civilian fatality and minor injuries to eight others. The assault included a Sammad-3 drone of Iranian origin.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari revealed that the attack utilized a modified Samad-3 drone, enhanced for greater range. Hagari also noted the drone’s launch from Yemen. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, on Friday, cautioned that Israel would hold accountable any party that inflicts harm or conducts terrorist acts against it.
In addition, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to the defense forces’ retaliatory strike with a warning to Iran via a social media platform X post. “We will retaliate against any aggressor. Iran’s support, training, and funding of the Houthi group is part of its regional terror network targeting Israel,” Katz declared.
He called on the global community to enforce stringent sanctions on Iran, stating, “Now is the time for the international community to intensify sanctions on Iran. Directed by Iran, the Houthis are significantly disrupting maritime freedom and trade routes.” Katz also emphasized, “Iran is the core of the problem—it must be confronted immediately.”
Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam on social media platform X wrote “The brutal israeli aggression on Yemen by targeting civilian facilities, oil tanks, and the power station in Hodeidah aims to double the suffering of the people and pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza.”