JERUSALEM. The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, hours after conducting airstrikes on Houthi positions in the western Yemeni city of Hodeidah. This latest escalation follows a deadly drone attack by the Houthis on Tel Aviv.
The Israeli airstrikes, executed by U.S.-made F-15 and F-35 warplanes, were in direct response to the Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv which resulted in one fatality and significant damage. Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, stated, “The fire that is burning now in Hodeidah, is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear,” and pledged to conduct further strikes as necessary.
The Hodeidah strikes targeted key Houthi facilities and were a part of Israel’s broader response to an increased frequency of Houthi attacks. The Israeli military reported that the missile fired early Sunday was intercepted before reaching Israeli soil.
In response to the Israeli strikes, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the actions as “blatant Israeli aggression,” targeting fuel storage and a power station in Hodeidah. He warned that such attacks would only increase Yemeni resolve to support Gaza, asserting that “there will be impactful strikes.”
The Hodeidah port is a critical supply route for Yemen, which has been in turmoil since 2014 when the Houthis seized northern regions and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 150,000 casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis.
In related developments, the U.S. Central Command reported the destruction of a Houthi aerial vehicle over the Red Sea on Saturday. Additionally, the Houthis targeted a Liberia-flagged container vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Despite international efforts to counter Houthi attacks, including those by the U.S. and U.K., the conflict continues unabated. Analysts and Western intelligence services suspect Iranian support for the Houthis, although Tehran denies these allegations. The Houthis possess an array of missiles and drones, capable of reaching southern Israel, and regularly showcase their arsenal.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
