Israel launches wave of strikes on Yemen in retaliatory attack on Houthis

Israeli forces on Thursday launched a massive barrage of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen in the latest exchange of attacks between Israel and the Iranian-backed rebel group.

The Israeli military said in a statement on the social platform X that fighter jets struck military targets on the western coast of Yemen.

The targets included military infrastructure at Sana’a International Airport along with the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations and three seaports on the western coast, according to the military.

"These military targets were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials," the Israeli military said in the statement. "This is a further example of the Houthis' exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes."

Houthi media also reported a series of Israeli strikes on the power stations, the airport and the Ras Isa oil port.

The attack comes just days after a Houthi rocket hit Tel Aviv, injuring at least 16 people.

Israel has struck the Houthis several times in Yemen, looking to cripple the Iranian-backed rebel group from launching attacks.

The Houthis, however, have proven resilient, and are continuing to attack not just Israel but also merchant shipping in the Red Sea, part of a campaign the rebel group claims is in solidarity with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, which has been fighting against Israeli forces since Oct. 7, 2023.

The U.S. has also positioned naval assets in the Red Sea and the Middle East region that has been fighting directly against the Houthis since January. The Houthis have been launching attacks in the Red Sea region since shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.