The Israeli army confirmed on Saturday that it has struck Houthi targets in western Yemen. This comes after a fatal drone attack by the rebel group in Tel Aviv the previous day, Associated Press reported. It also said that several "military targets" were hit in the western port city of Hodeidah, which is a Houthi stronghold, adding that its attack was "in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the state of Israel in recent months."
"A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah Port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months," Israel Defence Forces posted on X.
Earlier today, a media outlet controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen reported intense airstrikes on Hodeidah, which it said appeared to be Israeli airstrikes.
'Blatant Israeli Aggression'
Following the attack, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam wrote on X that Yemen was subjected to a "blatant Israeli aggression".
The spokesman also said that the airstrikes targeted the province's fuel storage facilities and power station.
The attacks aim "to increase the suffering of the people and to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza," he added.
However, Abdulsalam reiterated Yemen's support for Gaza and said that the attacks by Israel will only make Yemen's armed forces and its people more determined to support Gaza, the report noted.
'Israel Is Fighting A Multi-Front War'
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on July 19 that an Iranian explosive UAV, likely fired from Yemen, crashed into an apartment in Tel Aviv, near Amercian embassy. A civilian was killed and eight others were injured in the attack.
He further said that the attack did not come out of nowhere as "Israel, which is fighting a multi front war, was facing continuous aerial threats from all directions, including dozens of UAVs fired from Yemen."
"We are assessing the situation and will take necessary action," he added.