On Thursday, the Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes on military sites belonging to the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the attacks targeted Houthi infrastructure, including key military assets along Yemen’s western coast and inland regions.

The strikes were carried out with the approval of Israeli Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the Chief of the General Staff. According to the IDF, the airstrikes were directed at sites used by the Houthis for their military operations, including critical locations such as the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports. Other strategic targets included the Sana’a International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations.

In an official statement, the IDF emphasized that the Houthis have been involved in repeated attacks against Israel, including UAV and missile assaults on Israeli territory. The IDF explained that the targeted sites were not only military hubs but also used by the Houthis to smuggle Iranian weapons into Yemen and facilitate the entry of senior Iranian officials into the region. This move underscores the ongoing tensions and the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, as the Houthis continue to act as a proxy force aligned with Iranian interests.

The IDF further condemned the Houthis’ use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes, highlighting the group’s role in destabilizing the region. They described the Houthis as a “terrorist regime” that, with Iranian support, has been actively threatening international shipping routes and global security. “The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror,” the IDF noted, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to defending its citizens and operations, regardless of distance from its borders.

This airstrike is part of a broader Israeli strategy to combat perceived threats from the Houthis, who have escalated missile and drone attacks on Israel in recent months. Just days earlier, on December 19, the IDF had carried out a similar airstrike targeting Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen. The repeated strikes are seen as a response to the Houthi attacks on Israel and are part of a larger effort by Israel to safeguard its interests and prevent the expansion of Iranian influence in the region.

The situation in Yemen remains complex, with the Houthi group controlling large parts of the country amid a prolonged civil war. Israel’s involvement in this conflict is closely linked to its broader regional strategy and its concerns over Iranian influence in the Middle East.

The ongoing tensions between Israel and the Houthis, backed by Iran, underscore the rising risks of regional instability, with the potential for further escalations involving multiple state and non-state actors. As the situation unfolds, Israel has signaled its willingness to take decisive action to counter any threats to its security, regardless of the geographical distance or the complexity of the political dynamics involved.

Sources By Agencies