Attack on Houthis 1800 Kilometers from Israel; Gallant: 'Nowhere is Too Far for Us'

Following Israeli airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis in the port city of Hodeidah, Yemen, which is 1800 kilometers away from Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized: "For us, nowhere is too far." He stated on social media platform 'X': "The message is very clear; for us, nowhere is too far." The Israeli army announced on Sunday, October 8, that it had targeted positions and objectives of the Houthi militants in Yemen. According to the Israeli army, the operation targeted several power plants and a port used by the Houthi Shiites for 'exporting oil' and 'spreading Iranian weapons in the region.' Reuters also reported, citing two informed sources, that several locations, including fuel tanks, were targeted in the airstrikes on Hodeidah. The Houthi Shiites of Yemen, who are proxy groups of the Islamic Republic, had recently targeted Israel with ballistic missiles and drones. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, declared that Houthi forces would 'not hesitate to support Lebanon and Hezbollah.' According to UN experts, the Houthi militants in Yemen have become a powerful military organization with the help of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Quds Force, Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists. Some unconfirmed reports on social media suggest that Mohammed Abdulsalam, the spokesman for the Houthis, was killed when his helicopter crashed while returning from Iran to Yemen. Voice of America has not yet been able to confirm the accuracy of this report. The attack by Israel on the positions of the Iran-backed Houthis in Hodeidah has raised concerns, with a senior policy advisor from the 'Alliance Against a Nuclear Iran' stating that Israel has eliminated a generation of Hezbollah's leadership. Shipping companies have increased the 'threat level' for vessels heading to Israeli ports. The Houthis have also attacked Tel Aviv and Ashkelon; Israel reported intercepting and destroying a missile launched from Yemen.