palestinians

CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Israel Strikes Houthi-Controlled Port in Yemen after the Iranian-Backed Group’s Deadly Drone Attack on Tel Aviv [#OperationOutstretchedArm]

Israel’s first strike in Yemen, one of its farthest-ever acts, attacked a fuel store and other infrastructure at Hodeida Port in response to months of attacks on the country during the Gaza War.

The Israeli Air Force struck the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida in western Yemen on Saturday, according to the IDF and local media, a day after an Iranian-backed group’s drone struck Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli civilian.

The strikes injured at least 80 individuals, according to Al-Masirah TV, the Houthi terror group’s principal television news outlet.

It was the first time the Israel Defense Forces conducted strikes in Yemen.

The military termed the attack “Operation Outstretched Arm.”

The IAF strike on the port attempted to prevent the Houthis from importing Iranian weaponry while also causing financial harm to the Iran-backed rebels.

According to the Israeli military, the port in the Houthi-controlled city has been frequently used to import weapons from Iran, therefore Israel viewed it as a valid military target.

The airstrike targeted fuel depots, energy-related sites, and other port facilities.

Images and video captured enormous flames and smoke rising from the port.

Israel carried out the strike alone, with no American military involvement.

According to an Israeli military officer, the United States was informed of the attack in advance.

The strike featured at least a dozen IAF aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighter jets, F-15 fighters, surveillance aircraft, and refueling planes, the latter due to the target’s location 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) away from Israel.

Beachgoers in the southernmost city of Eilat captured footage of an Israeli aircraft flying toward Yemen on Saturday afternoon.

“This is a complex attack, one of the farthest and longest carried out by the Israeli Air Force. It required careful planning and preparation for a variety of possible threats in the area.”

– IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari in a press conference

Israel has threatened a response to the deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv early Friday, which killed 50-year-old Yevgeny Ferder.

The Houthis launched an Iranian-made drone, which was not intercepted by air defenses due to a “human error,” the military stated.

On Saturday morning, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with senior military personnel, during which the strike on Hodeida’s port was approved.

Later in the day, Israel’s security cabinet met to approve the attack.

The discussion lasted many hours, and the ministers were still present when the strike began about 6 PM Israel Time.

According to the IDF, Yemen’s Houthis have fired over 220 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones toward Israel during the last 9 months, primarily toward the southernmost city of Eilat, in support of Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The vast bulk of the Iran-backed group’s rockets were intercepted by US forces stationed in the Red Sea, as well as Israeli air defenses and fighter jets, or they missed their target.

Prior to Friday’s attack on Tel Aviv, just 1 Houthi projectile, a cruise missile, had successfully struck Israel, hitting an open region near Eilat in March.

Until Saturday, Israel did not reply to the Houthi attacks.

It had hoped that a US-led coalition would continue to bomb the Houthis in response to the Iran-backed group’s attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea.

The US-led coalition did not strike the port since it was also viewed as being utilized to transport humanitarian aid into the war-torn country.

Nonetheless, Hagari claimed that Israel has no intention of harming the Yemeni people.

“We are operating against the Houthi terror.”

“Israel expects the countries of the world to stand on one front, this is a common international interest.”

– IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari

The Houthi-run health ministry reported that the strike resulted in casualties.

An official from the Iran-backed group stated that the strike will result in “escalation.”

The Israeli military said there was no change in instructions for Israeli civilians, but it was expecting a response from the Houthis.

Following the strike, Gallant stated that it was a message to Israel’s enemies in the Middle East.

“The fire that is currently burning in Hodeida is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear. The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required.”

“The blood of Israeli citizens has a price. This has been made clear in Lebanon, in Gaza, in Yemen and in other places — if they will dare to attack us, the result will be identical.”

– Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a video statement

The Iran-backed Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014 and control vast sections of the nation, are “part of the axis of resistance” against Israel, with Hamas, which is also sponsored by Tehran.

During the Israel-Hamas conflict, Houthi rebels have voiced solidarity with the Palestinians and threatened Israel.

The Iranian-backed group’s slogan reads:

“Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory to Islam.”

Since November, the Houthis have fired on scores of commercial and military ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis claim to be targeting ships in response to Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

However, they have frequently targeted vessels with no evident ties to Israel, jeopardizing ships along a critical route for global trade between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Other Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria have claimed to have launched dozens of drones and cruise missiles at Israel during the ongoing war sparked by Hamas’ devastating October 7 terror attack, while Lebanon’s Hezbollah has attacked communities and IDF positions in northern Israel almost daily.

Iran also launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in April, firing hundreds of drones and missiles that were intercepted.

NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
The Times of Israel

ISRAEL STRIKES HOUTHI-CONTROLLED PORT IN YEMEN after Deadly Drone Attack on Tel Aviv… | Christian Breaking News!