Extensive Israeli Airstrikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen

The Israeli army confirmed that in response to missile and drone attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis on Israel, various locations in Yemen have been targeted. The announcement from the Israeli army, released on Thursday, December 29, states that the areas attacked by Israeli warplanes were under Houthi control and were being used for military operations. This announcement came shortly after Yemeni media reported that Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah were subjected to extensive airstrikes. Initially, the perpetrator of these attacks was unclear, but a U.S. military official emphasized in a conversation with the Associated Press that American forces were not behind these attacks. The strikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah occurred just minutes after the Israeli army announced that its air force intercepted a Houthi missile before it entered Israeli airspace. An Israeli army spokesperson stated that the ballistic missile fired from Yemen was intercepted outside of Israeli airspace by a special air defense system designed to counter long-range missiles. Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated in a statement regarding his country's attacks on Houthi targets: "Anyone who raises their hand against us will have their hand cut off. Any entity that strikes will receive multiple blows in return." The Israeli Emergency Services and the municipality of Ramat Gan reported that parts of the Yemeni missile landed on a school building, causing severe damage. Israeli army radio reported that the Houthis have recently launched over 200 ballistic missiles and 170 drones towards Israel, most of which have been intercepted. Previous Israeli attacks against the Houthis had targeted the port of Hodeidah, but this time, for the first time, Sanaa, the main base of the Houthi-affiliated government, was bombed. According to retired Major General Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence, the air force's attack in five regions of Yemen on Thursday morning had been planned in advance and began approximately 45 minutes after the Houthis launched their missile. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for Ansar Allah, the military branch of the Houthis, claimed responsibility for launching "two" ballistic missiles of the "Palestine 2" model towards central Israel on Thursday morning. The Al-Masirah network, affiliated with Ansar Allah, reported that nine people were killed and three injured in the Israeli bombings, with seven fatalities in the port of Salif and two in the Ras Issa oil facilities. The Saudi Al-Hadath network reported significant damage to two power plants in Sanaa due to the Israeli attacks; the Huziz plant in southern Sanaa and the Dhabhan plant in the north of the capital. Al Jazeera also reported damage to part of Sanaa airport. The port of Hodeidah and the city of Sanaa are both under the control of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Hodeidah is the entry point for food and humanitarian aid shipments to war-torn Yemen, and it is suspected that Iranian military weapons reach the Houthis through this port. Israel had previously targeted various locations in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on its territory and had recently warned of the repetition of these attacks. The Israeli army targeted the port of Hodeidah and Yemeni oil facilities in July after a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv resulted in one death and ten injuries. The United States has also conducted multiple attacks against the Houthis in response to their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past year. U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, announced on Monday that it had targeted "an important command center" of the Houthis in Sanaa. Hours later, it was revealed that this center was the former Ministry of Defense of Yemen. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, the Houthis have claimed to support the Palestinians by targeting approximately 100 commercial vessels with missiles and drones. This group has so far seized one ship and sunk two others.