Israel raided a series of seaports and airports in Yemen

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) today announced that they had attacked “infrastructures used by the Houthi armed group for military purposes” at the capital Sanaa airport, Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power plants, Hodeidah port, Salif and Ras Issa on Yemen’s west coast.

“The Houthis used these facilities to transfer weapons and bring Iranian officials into the area,” the IDF said.

Tel Aviv announced this as a response to Houthi’s ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel recently. The attack was approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF commander Herzi Halevi.

Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to continue airstrikes on the Houthis “until the job is completed”, while Minister Katz said the country would “hunt down” all commanders of the armed group.

Houthi forces said the Israeli airstrike left three people dead and 14 people injured or missing. Of these, two people were killed and 11 injured at Sanaa airport, one person died, three people are missing at Ras Issa port.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Sanaa airport was attacked by air while he was preparing to board a plane. “One flight crew member was injured. At least two people at the airport were killed. The air traffic control tower, the boarding lounge were only a few meters away from us and the runway was damaged,” he wrote on social networks. .

The WHO Director General added that he and his colleagues are safe, but they must wait for the runway to be repaired before they can depart.

Iran, which backs the Houthis, criticized Israel after the IDF announced the operation.

“These aggressive moves clearly violate international security and peace, and are undeniable crimes against the Yemeni people, who spare no effort to support the oppressed Palestinian people, who are must resist occupation and genocide,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

The airstrike campaign took place a day after the Houthis launched ballistic missiles and two drones into Israeli territory. On December 21, the Yemeni armed group also launched a ballistic missile aimed at Tel Aviv, penetrating Israel’s multi-layered air defense network and injuring 16 people.

Prime Minister Netanyahu later announced that he had directed the IDF to destroy Houthi infrastructure in retaliation.

The Yemeni armed group has repeatedly launched missiles and UAVs into Israeli territory after the conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out more than a year ago, to show support for its ally Hamas. Most attacks were prevented, but Israeli air defenses have also let enemy missiles and UAVs slip in the past.

The Israeli army has raided many targets in Yemen, including seaports and energy facilities in areas controlled by the Houthis.