Video: Israel pounds Houthi strongholds in Yemen, 2 major ports hit in airstrikes
Israel attacked Yemen's Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Salif on Friday, continuing its efforts to weaken Houthi military capabilities. The Israeli military also warned that the group's top leader could become a target if missile attacks on Israel persist.The Houthis have been launching missiles toward Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, although they agreed to stop attacks on US ships. In response, Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes, including one on May 6 that damaged Yemen's main airport in Sanaa and caused multiple casualties. On Friday, the Israeli military dropped over 30 munitions on Houthi targets during its eighth such strike. The military said the ports of Hodeidah and Salif were being used to transfer weapons and urged residents to evacuate those areas.advertisementThe Houthi-run health ministry reported that the Israeli strikes killed at least one person and injured nine. Residents in Hodeidah heard four loud explosions and saw smoke rising from the port following the attack.
In a statement posted on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said, "The IDF struck and dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in the Hudaydah and Salif Ports in Yemen. These ports are used to transfer weapons and are a further example of the Houthi's systematic and cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure in order to advance terrorist activities."
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The IDF said that the strikes were carried out only after issuing multiple advanced warnings to the local population. This was intended to minimise the risk of harm to civilians living near the targeted sites.The statement concluded by warning that Israel will continue to prevent any hostile activities originating from these ports, underscoring its commitment to stopping Houthi aggression.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement saying, 'If the Houthis continue to fire missiles at the State of Israel, they will be severely harmed, and we will also hurt the leaders.' They added that Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi could join the list of militant figures targeted by Israel, including Hamas' Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah.Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior Houthi figure, dismissed the Israeli threats as 'illusions,' saying on X that they were attempts to buy time by setting 'unattainable goals.'The Houthis form part of Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' alongside Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. They control about 60 per cent of Yemen's population. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on Israel, most of which have been intercepted or fell short.with inputs from ReutersMust Watch
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