Israeli fighter jets bombed a seaport and multiple power stations in Yemen, the Israeli military confirmed on Sunday, following a series of missile attacks on central Israel by Iran-backed Houthi rebels this month.
The airstrikes targeted oil infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and Ras Issa, according to an Israeli army statement. While details on casualties were not immediately available, local residents reported that fuel storage tanks at Hodeidah port were hit, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.
The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for two missile strikes aimed at Tel Aviv on Friday and Saturday, though Israel’s air defence systems intercepted the missiles before they could cause any damage.
This escalation follows a previous Israeli airstrike on Hodeidah in July, after a Houthi-launched drone attack on Tel Aviv killed one person and injured several others.
“The IDF is determined to continue operating at any distance—near or far—against all threats to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The strikes involved dozens of aircraft flying over 1,800 kilometres (about 1,100 miles) to reach their targets.
Israel’s southern offensive coincides with its northern air campaign in Lebanon, where strikes have killed key Hezbollah leaders. More than 1,000 people have died, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in Lebanon due to the ongoing bombardments.
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