Barran Press
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi expressed satisfaction with the direct confrontation with Israel, the US, and the UK, following an Israeli airstrike on the port of Hodeidah on Sunday.
In a televised address broadcast by the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel, al-Houthi vowed to "continue maritime escalation against ships and attack Israel," claiming the drone attack on Tel Aviv on Friday was the beginning of the fifth phase of escalation.
The leader of the Iran-backed rebel group downplayed the significance of the Israeli strike on Hodeidah, asserting that his group would continue its operations and that any further strikes would have no impact on their military capabilities.
While the Houthi leader reveled in the confrontation with Israel, Yemenis condemned the airstrikes in Hodeidah, describing them as a "blatant assault" and arguing they "gave the Houthis what they wanted." Many Yemeni citizens expressed concerns that the group would exploit the strikes for further military mobilization and recruitment.
On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets launched airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah, fuel tanks, and the power station, resulting in six confirmed deaths, three missing, and 83 injured, according to the Houthis.
The Israeli military acknowledged the airstrikes on Hodeidah, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling them a response to the drone attack launched by the Houthis on Tel Aviv early Friday, which killed one Israeli and injured four others.
Early Friday, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported the death of one Israeli and the injury of 10 others after a drone crashed in central Tel Aviv. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as "unprecedented."
The Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah have been met with widespread condemnation from Yemen and the Arab world. The internationally recognized Yemeni government condemned the attack, warning Israel, Iran, and the Houthis against turning Yemen into a battleground.
The incident has sparked concerns that the escalation of violence will further destabilize Yemen and fuel the ongoing conflict, with the Houthis potentially leveraging the situation for their own gains.