Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen on Sunday, hitting oil storage facilities and causing massive explosions, in retaliation for recent missile attacks on Israel.
Footage verified by independent sources shows a large fireball erupting at a port facility, followed by thick black smoke and secondary explosions. Local media reported four deaths and 33 injuries, though these figures have not been independently confirmed.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strikes targeted “power plants and a port, which are used to import oil” and transfer Iranian weapons. The operation, involving fighter jets, refueling planes, and surveillance aircraft, hit targets approximately 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) from Israel.
“This action is in response to recent rocket launches by Houthi militants towards Israeli territory,” an IDF spokesperson said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to military protocols.
The Houthi attacks included a ballistic missile aimed at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, which was intercepted outside Israeli airspace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane had landed 35 minutes before air raid sirens sounded.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi vowed that the recent death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah “will not be in vain,” linking the Yemen conflict to the broader tensions in the region.
This escalation follows Israel’s intensified campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which culminated in the reported killing of Nasrallah on Friday night. The IDF claimed that over 80 bombs were used in the strike on Nasrallah’s underground bunker in Beirut, also killing at least 20 other Hezbollah militants.
