Barran Press
The Israeli military announced on Monday that it had conducted airstrikes targeting what it described as "terrorist" sites and infrastructure belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi group on the coast of Hodeidah Governorate in western Yemen.
In a statement released by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes were carried out in response to repeated attacks launched by the Iranian-backed group against Israel, which have included the firing of surface-to-surface missiles and drones towards Israeli civilians.
The IDF stated that the targets included infrastructure within the port of Hodeidah, which it alleged serves as "a central source of supply for the Houthis and is used to transport Iranian weapons." The statement further noted that measures were taken to minimize potential damage to vessels docked in the port.
The Israeli military also claimed that the strikes hit the Bajil cement factory, located east of Hodeidah city. The IDF asserted that the factory, a significant economic resource, is "used in the construction of underground tunnels and terrorist infrastructure for the Houthis."
According to the IDF statement, "the Houthi terrorist regime operates under Iranian guidance and funding to target Israel and its allies, destabilize regional security, and disrupt global freedom of navigation." The IDF emphasized its determination to continue operating, at any distance, against all threats facing the State of Israel.
The announcement comes a day after the Israeli military reported that a Houthi-launched missile struck Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Following the reported impact, Israel's Channel 13 revealed that several airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Air India, ITA Airways, and Air Europa, had cancelled their scheduled flights to Tel Aviv.