Video: Israeli Airstrikes in Yemen Kill at Least 6 Houthis After Tel Aviv Drone Attack

At least six people were killed and many more were injured in Israeli airstrikes on a Yemeni port, according to Houthi rebels. This comes a day after the Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for a deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their fighter jets targeted “military objectives of the Houthi terrorist regime” in Yemen’s Hodeidah Port on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this was a direct response to the killing of a 50-year-old Israeli in a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv the previous day.

This marks the first time Israel has launched an attack on Yemen, as per Israeli officials.

The Houthis reported that at least six people were killed, three are missing, and 83 were injured in the strikes, which targeted oil facilities.

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam claimed that the strikes also hit civilian areas and a power station, condemning what he called “brutal Israeli aggression” aimed at exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people and pressuring the group to halt its support for Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Yehya Saree vowed retaliation, threatening to strike Israel’s “vital targets” and asserting that Tel Aviv, a major city with many diplomatic missions, remains vulnerable.

“We are prepared for a prolonged conflict with this enemy until the aggression ceases and the blockade on the Palestinian people is lifted,” Saree said.

On Sunday, Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen. The IDF stated, “The projectile did not enter Israeli territory. Sirens were sounded due to the potential for falling shrapnel. The incident is now over.”

### Netanyahu’s Statement
Netanyahu stated that Hodeidah was “not an innocent port,” alleging it was used for military purposes, including as an entry point for weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran. He also claimed it had been used to target international shipping in the Red Sea.

“The operation, hitting targets 1,800 km from Israel’s borders, demonstrates that Israel is serious about addressing threats,” Netanyahu said. “It sends a clear message to our enemies that there is no place beyond the reach of Israel.”

### International Reactions
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the strikes, as stated by the UN.

The Houthis warned of a significant response, pledging continued attacks on Israeli, American, and British ships until Israel lifts its “siege” on Gaza.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the strikes were also a response to approximately 200 missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards Israel since the onset of the Gaza conflict.

Since the start of the war, Yemeni rebels have frequently targeted Israel with drones and missiles, most of which have been intercepted by Israel’s defenses or those of its allies. The Houthis claimed their drone attack on Tel Aviv, which injured 10 people, was executed with a new drone capable of evading interception systems.

### U.S. and U.K. Responses
The U.S. and U.K. have conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks on shipping. However, Israel had not previously participated in these responses.

An Israeli defense official told CNN that this strike was entirely an Israeli operation. The official stated that Israel had previously allowed the U.S. and U.K. to lead responses to Houthi attacks but decided to act directly this time due to the Israeli casualty in Tel Aviv.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin before the strike.

### The Houthis
The Houthi movement, or Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), is a Shi’ite Islamist political and military organization backed by Iran, which emerged in the 1990s. The group’s slogan is, “God is the Greatest. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse the Jews. Victory to Islam.”

In 2014, the Houthis allied with former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to seize Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, from the UN-recognized Yemeni government, igniting a civil war.

Since March 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE has opposed Houthi forces in Yemen. The Houthis are seen by parts of the Sunni Muslim world as defenders of the Palestinian cause against Israel.

Since October 7, Houthi rebels have launched numerous missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming these vessels are linked to Israel and its allies, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.