US hits Huthi targets in Yemen, hours after rebels attack Israel

US hits Huthi targets in Yemen, hours after rebels attack Israel

On Saturday, the United States announced that it had targeted locations in Yemen‘s rebel-controlled capital following an incident in which a Huthi rebel missile injured individuals in Tel Aviv, Israel‘s commercial centre.

A missile strike that injured 16 individuals marks the second attack of its kind within two days.The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that among the targets struck by US forces were a rebel missile storage centre and a “command-and-control facility.”

American forces reportedly intercepted several Huthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea. This development followed a report from the rebels’ Al-Masirah TV channel, which claimed that “aggression” had struck the Attan district of Sanaa, attributing the blame to Western forces.

In a series of military operations this year, American and British forces have targeted rebel positions in Yemen, a response to Huthi assaults on shipping routes in the Red Sea, which are crucial for international trade.

Israel has a history of retaliating, targeting ports and energy facilities in response to rebel attacks on its territory.

The Huthi rebels, supported by Iran, have taken responsibility for the missile strike on Israel that occurred on Saturday, asserting that they targeted “a military target of the Israeli enemy” with a ballistic missile.

The Israeli military reported an unsuccessful attempt to intercept a missile, prompting numerous residents to evacuate their homes during the early hours of the morning.

The Huthis have consistently fired missiles at Israel in a show of support for the Palestinians, a response that has intensified since the onset of the Gaza conflict over a year ago. The majority have been successfully intercepted.

The Israeli military reported via its Telegram channel that a projectile launched from Yemen was detected, prompting alert sirens, but interception attempts were unsuccessful.

The military later asserted that Israeli civilians had been “deliberately targeted.” The statement emphasized that the nation’s aerial defence is not foolproof, urging Israelis to adhere to security guidelines.

While at home, I was startled by a loud explosion. “I immediately went to the scene and observed considerable blast damage to adjacent buildings,” said medic Yosef Kourdi in a statement issued by Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA).

The statement reported that medical teams from MDA attended to 16 individuals who sustained minor injuries from glass shards resulting from shattered windows in adjacent buildings, a consequence of the strike’s impact.

‘Extremely fortunate’

Ido Barnea, an IT manager whose apartment sustained damage, reported to AFP that a missile alert was triggered shortly before 4:00 am (0200 GMT).

“He described witnessing a large ball of fire in the sky,” he stated. “I was unable to rise and prepare myself for an outing.”

An AFP photographer observed that numerous residents affected by the strike were forced to evacuate their homes, taking only the essentials with them.

Images captured by AFP revealed a significant crater at the site of the missile impact, alongside debris scattered within the bedroom of a neighbouring residence that sustained damage.

The police quickly established a perimeter around the neighbourhood. Noa Mosseri, whose apartment sustained damage, informed AFP that she also heard the missile alert.

“We were fortunate, as we didn’t have the opportunity to reach a secure location.” A loud boom resonated just moments later. “We were able to escape unharmed,” she stated.

On Saturday, the Huthi rebels issued a statement affirming their commitment to persist with attacks on Israel, declaring that such actions would continue “until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted”.

Two days following the missile strike that caused damage to an Israeli school, the attack occurred.

The military reported that the missile was intercepted, albeit partially, resulting in its warhead exploding and damaging the school.

Israel has launched a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, marking a significant escalation as it targets the rebel-held capital of Sanaa for the first time.

According to rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi, nine civilians lost their lives in the recent strikes.

Alert

In the aftermath of the Huthi attack on Saturday, the Israeli military reported that it successfully intercepted a drone over southern Israel, which had originated from the east.

The origin of the drone remains unspecified; however, similar attacks have been attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, which is also aligned with Iran, following the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Following a retaliatory strike in response to Thursday’s assault by the Huthis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to the rebels, indicating that any further aggression would result in serious consequences.

Netanyahu stated, “Following Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria, the Huthis represent nearly the last remaining component of Iran’s axis of evil.”

“The Huthis are coming to understand, and will continue to realize, that any aggression towards Israel will result in significant consequences.”

On December 9, a drone attributed to the Huthis detonated on the upper level of a residential structure in Yavne, a city located in central Israel, resulting in no reported injuries.

In July, a drone attack by Houthi forces targeted Tel Aviv, resulting in the death of an Israeli civilian. This incident led to retaliatory airstrikes on the rebel-controlled port city of Hodeida.

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