Yemen experiences Israeli airstrikes in response to Houthi rebels' attack on airport
Revised Article:
The Israeli military unleashed airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah Port on Monday, retaliating against missile attacks that struck near Israel's main airport the previous day. These strikes left at least 36 individuals injured and resulted in substantial damage to the port's facilities.
Anees al-Asbahi, the Houthi-run health ministry spokesman, confirmed the casualties. The Houthis shut down the region around the port and cement factory following the strikes, according to three sources.
Evidently, the intense bombardment caused severe damage to the port's container dockage. Two opposing sources estimated that 70% of the port's five docks, warehouses, and customs area were destroyed. Importantly, the attacks transpired as two ships were offloading their cargo, thereby halting port traffic entirely. A worker at the port reported the standstill.
As the second-largest Red Sea port after Aden, Hodeidah is the primary entry point for around 80% of Yemen's food imports. Over ten strikes targeted Hodeidah Port, along with the Al Salakhanah and Al Hawak neighborhoods in Hodeidah City, reported five residents to Reuters. Four additional strikes targeted a cement factory east of Hodeidah.
The Israeli military alleged that the attack was a response to repeated attacks by the Houthi militant group, which had launched surface-to-surface missiles and unmanned aircraft towards Israeli territory in previous incidents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his commitment to retaliate for the Sunday missile attack, marking the first known instance the missile went unintercepted by Israel's air defenses in a series of attacks since March. Houthi official Abdul Qader al-Mortada commented on the attack, warning Israel to brace itself for the "unimaginable."
Yemen's Houthi rebels had resumed their attacks on Israel and shipping lanes following a temporary ceasefire. The Houthis contend that their actions exemplify solidarity with the Palestinians, with their assaults on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea occurring since the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In other related news, an oil company operated by the Houthis disclosed they would now operate an emergency fuel supply system for cars, owing to challenges in unloading cargo at the oil port of Ras Isa. The company's statement mentioned that the U.S. strikes on Yemen and the port prompted the decision.
A U.S. official reported anonymously that while U.S. forces had not actively participated in Monday's strikes, there existed general coordination between the two allies. In other developments earlier on Monday, Israel endorsed a plan potentially entailing the seizure of the Gaza Strip and control of aid to Palestinian enclaves.
The conflict in Gaza ignited after a series of Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, resulting in over a thousand fatalities and the capture of 251 individuals, according to Israeli assessments. Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, as per Gaza health officials, and the leveling of much of the enclave. Netanyahu stated in a video message that the operation would be "intensive" and would involve the relocation of more Palestinians from Gaza "for their own safety." Unlike previous tactics based on brief incursions by forces stationed outside Gaza, the new plan aims to maintain control of the territory gained.
Enrichment Data:
Extent of Damage: At least 70% of Hodeidah Port's five docks, warehouses, and customs areas were significantly damaged, impacting Yemen's food supply chain.
Casualties: The strikes resulted in at least 36 injured individuals.
Economic Impact: Considering Hodeidah's crucial role in Yemen's food imports, the damage inflicted is anticipated to have substantial economic and humanitarian consequences.
- Despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Yemen, a pension for the affected civilians might be an essential aspect of general-news discussions, considering the severe casualties and subsequent damage caused by military attacks, such as the one on Hodeidah Port.
- The increasing crime-and-justice incidents, like the Houthi militant group's missile attacks on Israeli territory, have sparked discussions in politics, leading to retaliatory measures and escalating tensions between the two nations.
- In addition to the reported accidents and damages at port facilities like Hodeidah, there has been a surge in crime-and-justice cases involving oil companies, such as the Houthis' operation of an emergency fuel supply system due to unloading challenges at the oil port of Ras Isa, possibly resulting in further legal and political repercussions.
