Israeli Army: We Targeted Houthi Military Positions in Yemen

On Thursday, January 6, Israel launched airstrikes against military positions of the Houthis, a group affiliated with the Iranian government, in Sanaa, the capital, and Hodeidah, during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declaring 'victory.' The Israeli army announced in a statement that its air force, after operational plans were approved by the Chief of Staff, Minister of Defense, and Prime Minister, conducted attacks against the military positions of the 'terrorist government' of the Houthis on the western coast and in the interior regions of Yemen. The statement noted the repeated drone and missile attacks by the Houthis against Israel and its citizens, adding that among the targets attacked were military infrastructures used by the Houthis for their military activities at Sanaa International Airport and the Hazeer and Ras Qantib power plants. The Israeli army also confirmed attacks on Houthi military infrastructures in the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Qantib, stating that the Houthis used these ports for 'smuggling Iranian weapons to the region and the entry of senior Iranian officials' into Yemen. The Israeli army reminded that the actions of the Houthis are another example of this Iran-backed group abusing civilian infrastructures for military purposes. According to the Israeli army's statement, 'The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian government's terrorism axis, and their attacks against ships and international shipping lines continue to destabilize the region and the world.' The Israeli army concluded its statement by saying, 'The Houthi terrorist regime acts as an autonomous terrorist group relying on cooperation and financial support from the Iranian government for its attacks,' and Israel will not hesitate to confront any threat against its citizens from any distance. According to the Jerusalem Post, the main runway, control tower, and an aircraft at Sanaa International Airport were among the targets attacked on Thursday. Reports published by 'Sky News Arabia' indicated a fire at Sanaa Airport due to the Israeli airstrikes. The i24 News network reported, citing Israeli officials, that the retaliatory attacks on Thursday against 'Houthi jihadists' were broader and deadlier than previous air force attacks by the Israeli army against this Iran-backed group's positions. The Jerusalem Post reported from its sources that the United States was aware of the Israeli army's attacks on Thursday against the Iran-backed Houthis. These attacks occurred while Abdul-Malik al-Houthi claimed in his speech that Israel had 'failed' to confront this group and gather intelligence about it. However, following the Israeli attacks on Houthi positions, Mohammed Abdulsalam, the spokesman for this Iran-backed group, claimed that Israel was committing 'crimes against the people of Yemen' with these attacks. Israel, following heavy attacks against Hamas and Hezbollah and the elimination of a significant portion of their commanders and the killing of thousands of members of these two groups, as well as the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, has intensified the frequency and severity of its attacks against the Houthis as the 'last proxy arm' of the Iranian government in the region.