On Thursday evening, the Israel Air Force (IAF) carried out extensive strikes against Houthi terrorist positions in Yemen. Targets included Sanaa International Airport, the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power plants, and terrorist infrastructure in the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF said these facilities were used by the Houthi terrorist regime to smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and to infiltrate senior Iranian officials. The Houthi terrorist regime is a central component of the Iranian terrorist axis, and its attacks destabilise the region and the world,’ the statement said.
The attacks came during a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who said: ‘Israel’s deterrence has failed. Our missiles have caused great frustration in Israel and the United States.
Speaking from Israeli Air Force headquarters after the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: ‘We are engaged in a modern-day Maccabean struggle and are determined to cut off this terrorist arm of the Iranian axis of evil. Defence Minister Israel Katz added: ‘No one will be able to escape Israel’s long range.
Within hours of the attacks, rocket alerts were activated in central Israel, including the Gush Dan and Shefela areas, and sirens were heard in the Jerusalem area. The alerts were triggered after the IDF received reports of a rocket being fired from Yemen. The rocket was successfully intercepted before it could enter Israeli airspace.
The incident caused temporary disruptions to air traffic. Several El Al flights were forced to divert over the Mediterranean before landing. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported no direct injuries, but treated 20 people for minor injuries and symptoms of shock.
🚨Millions of Israelis are currently in shelter as Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched a missile attack, triggering sirens across Israel. pic.twitter.com/RvsSAGyvHG
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 27, 2024
The IDF is continuing to investigate the incident and stressed that Israel remains committed to dealing with threats from all directions. Yemen, some 1,600 kilometres (990 miles) south of Israel, remains a central theatre of rocket and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi group, which has expressed solidarity with Hamas in the current conflict.
Since the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on 7 October, Houthi terrorists have fired over 200 rockets and 170 drones into Israel in support of Hamas.
With reports from JNS
