Israel Conducts Airstrikes on Yemen Houthi Rebel Key Facilities... 9 Dead

The Israeli military reportedly bombed the bases of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, according to major foreign media including the Associated Press on the 19th (local time).

At around 3:15 a.m. that day, the Israeli military deployed 14 fighter jets along with refueling and reconnaissance aircraft to bomb three major Houthi rebel infrastructure ports on Yemen's western coast along the Red Sea: Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif.

Firefighters are extinguishing a fire following an Israeli airstrike targeting the Sana'a power plant in Yemen. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Then, at around 4:30 a.m., a second airstrike targeted two power plants in Yemen's capital, Sana'a.

Al Masirah TV, operated by the Houthis, reported that the airstrikes damaged power plants and oil facilities, resulting in a total of nine deaths, including at least seven in Salif and two in Ras Isa.

Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that the airstrikes targeted energy facilities and port infrastructure and were an effective way to counter the military actions of the Houthi rebels.

An Israeli military source said, "The purpose of the airstrikes was to paralyze all three ports used by the Houthi rebels," and confirmed that the objective was achieved.

The Israeli military conducted the airstrikes after a ballistic missile was launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory at around 2:35 a.m. that day. The missile was intercepted and destroyed.

However, the Israeli military clarified that the airstrikes were not a direct response to the missile launch but were pre-planned and had been notified to the United States in advance.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military claimed, "Over the past year, the Houthis have received instructions and financial support from Iran, cooperating with Iraqi militias to attack Israel, destabilize the region, and disrupt global maritime freedom of navigation. This airstrike will help prevent the smuggling of Iranian weapons into this area."

The Houthi rebels have continued to attack Israel under the pretext of supporting Hamas, which is at war in the Gaza Strip, even after Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.