Israel bombs Yemen's international airport in 'revenge strike' after Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Ben Gurion
Israel carried out a second wave of airstrikes on the beleaguered capital of Yemen today in an apparent revenge attack for a Houthi assault on an Israeli airport.
The IDF said it had struck multiple Houthi targets including several major power stations, adding that the international airport in Sanaa was at a 'complete standstill'.
'The airport ... is used by the Houthi terrorist organization for the transfer of weapons and operatives, and is continuously operated by the Houthi regime for terrorist purposes,' an IDF spokesperson claimed.
'In addition, several central power stations in the Sana'a area were also attacked, which the Houthi terrorist regime exploits as a significant electricity supply infrastructure for the terrorist regime,' they added, without providing evidence.
Eyewitnesses in the capital reported four strikes on Tuesday, following an attack on the port of Hodeidah on Monday.
Israel noted the attacks followed Sunday's Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport, an assault that injured six and caused airlines to cancel flights.
Tensions have escalated between Israel and Yemen's Houthi rebels as the Iran-aligned group continues to launch attacks in response to Israel's operations in Gaza.
Israel vowed a tough response for both the Houthis and Iran after Ben Gurion airport was struck on Sunday, though Tehran said it had nothing to do with the attack.
At least six people were injured in the weekend Houthi attack. The Yemeni outfit said they had attacked the airport with a hypersonic missile.
Israeli hit back with strikes on Monday and Tuesday. Houthi media claimed that the US had joined Israel in the Tuesday assault, though provided no evidence.
Washington did not immediately comment on the strikes.
The Israeli military published a map of the area surrounding Sanaa International Airport, telling residents: 'Not evacuating puts you in danger.'
Casualties from the strikes were not immediately clear.
'The attacks were carried out in a targeted manner, taking precautions to the extent possible to minimize harm to civilians and civilian property,' the IDF spokesperson added.
Strikes in the vicinity of Hodeidah on Monday killed four people and injured 39, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.
In a video published on Telegram, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will 'act in the future' against the Houthi revels.
'It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs,' he added.
The Houthis have been firing at Israel and shipping in the Red Sea since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians.
The Houthis said previously that they would impose an 'aerial blockade' on Israel by targeting its airports after the Israeli Cabinet agreed a 'plan' for Gaza that could see the displacement of its 2.3 million population.
A plan, codenamed 'Gideon's Chariots', was brought together on Sunday to gradually reoccupy all of the Palestinian enclave and hold it indefinitely unless a deal can be made by May 15.
It includes measures to flatten 'all infrastructure' above and below ground and move virtually 2.3 million people to what Israel has termed a 'humanitarian area'.
One official said that the alternative for Palestinians would be to leave their homeland 'voluntarily', moving to countries 'in line with President Trump's vision for Gaza'.
But with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruling out proposals that would end the war entirely, Hamas has conceded there is 'no sense' in pursuing truce talks.
'There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,' senior Hamas official Basem Naim told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.
Mediator Qatar said today it was still pursuing efforts for a Gaza war ceasefire, even after Israel approved expanded operations and Hamas said it wasn't interested in further talks.
Qatar remains in 'continuous' contact with all parties, foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said, despite major obstacles to a new accord.
'Our efforts remain ongoing despite the difficulty of the situation and the continuing catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,' Ansari told reporters at a briefing.
'There are continuous contacts between Qatar and the concerned parties,' he added.
Foreign negotiation remains a fragile lifeline for Gaza's population after 18 months of war.
Israeli security cabinet minister Zeev Elkin told Kan that 'there is still a window of opportunity until President Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East [next week], if Hamas understands we are serious'.
But Trump is not playing a mediating role between Hamas and Israel, and Netanyahu faces less pressure than he did from the previous U.S. administration.
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