Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel’s military will respond forcefully to any threats, emphasizing this point following the airstrike in Yemen. According to the Houthi military spokesman, the militia is preparing for a protracted conflict with Israel. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Guterres is urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Following the Israeli airstrike in Yemen, which was carried out in retaliation for a deadly drone attack launched by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia in Tel Aviv, concerns of an escalation are growing. Both Iran and Israel have issued warnings to each other. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, stated that Israel’s actions might spark a regional war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a defensive measure once morest Iran’s “axis of terror.”
“Now is the time for the international community to maximize sanctions once morest Iran,” demanded Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on X. He accused Iran of supporting, training, and financing the Houthi militia, characterizing them as a part of Iran’s network of terrorist organizations targeting Israel. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that Israel and its supporters, such as the United States, would be “directly responsible” for the “unpredictable and dangerous consequences” of the Gaza war and the attacks on Yemen.
According to military sources, in the early hours of Sunday morning, Israel’s missile defense system intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen. A missile alert had been sounded in the vicinity of the southern Israeli port city of Eilat, but the missile did not reach Israeli territory. There were no reports of casualties.
Guterres “deeply concerned”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” regarding the escalating situation in the region. He called for “utmost restraint.” The Israeli military had previously stated that they had targeted military facilities belonging to the Houthi militia in the port of Hodeidah. According to reports from the Houthi-affiliated television station Al-Masirah, citing the health authority, there were at least three fatalities and 87 injuries.
Images showed significant fires. Houthi spokesmen confirmed an Israeli attack on “civilian facilities” in Yemen. Their targets were oil and electricity infrastructure. “From the beginning of the war, I made it clear that Israel would take action once morest anyone who attacked us,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated. On Friday, a combat drone from Yemen struck the center of Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring at least eight others.
The counterattack in Yemen “makes it clear to our enemies that there is no place that Israel’s long arm will not reach,” Netanyahu said. It was the answer “to hundreds of attacks on Israel in recent months,” the Israeli army stated. Netanyahu alleged that Iranian weapons were transported into the country through the port of Hodeidah. He characterized the Houthi militia in Yemen as an integral part of the Iranian “axis of evil,” alongside Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Israel’s “most important enemy”
Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, the decades-long conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated significantly. Israel finds itself under attack on multiple fronts, facing aggression from militias allied with Iran. Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, Israel and the USA have been considered the country’s primary enemies. Netanyahu has also referred to Iran as the “most important enemy” in the past.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant regarding Israel’s response to the drone attack by the Houthi militia in Tel Aviv, a Pentagon spokesman said. Israel’s strike followed months of Houthi attacks once morest Israel. Austin reiterated “the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and Israel’s right to self-defense.”
Preparing for a “long war”
The military spokesman for the Houthi militia in Yemen, Yahya Saree, stated that they were preparing for a “long war” with Israel. The militia has been attacking merchant ships in the region for months, claiming they have links to Israel. They maintain that their actions are in solidarity with the Palestinians during the Gaza war. They have also launched attacks on targets in Israel, with most of the missiles being intercepted. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that Iran finances, arms, and directs the terrorist activities of the Houthi.
The long-range drone that targeted Tel Aviv was loaded with explosives and struck a residential building in the center of the Israeli coastal metropolis on Friday. Following the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Gallant announced retaliation. The Israeli air force struck targets associated with terrorist activities, including energy infrastructure, in the counterattack on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, Hagari said. Israel carried out the airstrike unilaterally and did not involve allies such as the USA.
According to Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Malki, Saudi Arabia was also not involved in the attacks on Hodeidah. Saudi Arabia will not allow any violation of its airspace.
In the ongoing war between the Shiite Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, and the Yemeni government in Sanaa, dominated by Sunnis and other groups, Saudi Arabia supports the government. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which shares a border with northern Yemen, views itself as the protector of the Sunnis.
Yemen has been ravaged by civil war for years. There is also a severe humanitarian crisis, with approximately 80 percent of the population reliant on some form of aid. According to the UN, around 70 percent of all imports and 80 percent of all humanitarian aid enter the country through the strategically important port of Hodeidah on the Red Sea. (APA)
Israel Strikes Yemen in Response to Houthi Drone Attack, Raising Fears of Regional Conflict
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel’s “long arm” will reach any enemy, as the country launched a retaliatory airstrike in Yemen following a deadly drone attack by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia in Tel Aviv. The Houthi, meanwhile, have vowed to wage a “long war” once morest Israel, according to their military spokesman. As tensions escalate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for “utmost restraint” from all parties.
The Israeli airstrike in Yemen, targeting military facilities belonging to the Houthi militia in the port city of Hodeidah, has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict. Iranian officials have condemned the Israeli action, accusing Israel of “dangerous adventurism” and warning of “unpredictable and dangerous consequences.” Israel, meanwhile, has accused Iran of supporting, training, and financing the Houthi militia as part of its regional “terror axis.”
Escalating Tensions and Mutual Accusations
The Israeli counterattack in Yemen followed a Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv on Friday, which killed one person and injured at least eight others. The strike, carried out by a long-range drone loaded with explosives, hit a residential building in the heart of the Israeli city. The Houthi have claimed that their attacks on Israel are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel, however, has accused Iran of being behind the Houthi attacks, highlighting the increasing role that Iran is playing in the region and its growing influence on various militant groups. The Houthi’s attacks on Israeli targets, along with their growing military capabilities, have drawn strong condemnation from the Israeli government and its allies, particularly the United States.
International Concerns and Calls for Restraint
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, fueled by the recent events in Yemen and the Gaza Strip, have raised serious concerns within the international community. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed “deep concern regarding the risk of further escalation in the region” and called for “utmost restraint” from all parties involved.
The United States has also expressed its unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself, with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reaffirming “the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and Israel’s right to self-defense” in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant.
Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis and Strategic Port
The conflict in Yemen has had devastating consequences for its people, with millions facing hunger and displacement. The country’s humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by the ongoing war, which has choked off vital imports and humanitarian aid. The port of Hodeidah, which was targeted by Israel in its recent airstrike, is a crucial lifeline for Yemen, as it handles around 80 percent of the country’s imports and humanitarian aid.
The conflict in Yemen has drawn in various regional and international actors, adding a complex dimension to the already fragile situation. The ongoing war, with its humanitarian toll and potential for regional instability, remains a significant challenge for the international community.
