‘The whole Middle East sees the fire burning in Yemen’ – Israel strikes Houthi targets after deadly Tel Aviv drone attack

“The whole Middle East sees the fire that is burning in Yemen at the moment,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Saturday evening, confirming that Israel struck the Hodeidah port facilities in western Yemen.

The port of Hodeidah was chosen as the target of Israel’s first response against the Houthis because military supplies from the Iranian regime reportedly enter through this port, making it a legitimate military terrorist infrastructure.

The IDF confirmed earlier reports that Israel was behind the airstrikes in the port, which caused large explosions that sent smoke billowing into the sky.

“IDF fighter jets recently attacked military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen, in response to the hundreds of attacks against the State of Israel in recent months,” the IDF stated.

A significant fire following a possible airstrike in Hodeidah, Yemen. pic.twitter.com/GA4G4hgdu3

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) July 20, 2024

Early on Friday morning, a drone launched from Yemen exploded near an apartment building in Tel Aviv, killing one Israeli and wounding eight others.

“The Houthis attacked us over 200 times – the first time they harmed an Israeli citizen, we prepared them. We will do this as much as it takes, the blood of Israeli citizens is not cheap,” Gallant stated.

“We know that today in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and also in other places, if they dare to attack us the result will be the same,” he added.

The IDF said on Friday that since last October, some 200 launches of cruise missiles and drones by the Houthis have been detected. The majority were intercepted by Israel and U.S. forces.

Right now in Yemen, the Houthis are paying the price for being an Iranian proxy and launching an attack on Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/gWeoPWEcaX

— Sacha Roytman (@SachaRoytman) July 20, 2024

“We attacked at a distance of more than 1,700 kilometers using a large number of fighter planes. Several infrastructures were attacked, including dual-use energy infrastructures (for both military and civilian purposes),” IDF officials told Army Radio.

“This is an attack that is 200 kilometers further from Israel than Tehran,” the officials added, in a thinly veiled warning to the Iranian regime, which is the Houthis’ main supporter.

Yemen's oil infrastructure burning 👇

They shouldn't have sent that f*cking drone to Tel Aviv.
pic.twitter.com/hT3MsOK0TS

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) July 20, 2024

“This is the port that is used for the military buildup of the Houthis, and it has enjoyed immunity so far, the U.S. has not attacked there. 70% of the goods that enter from there - reach the Houthis.”

The military officials stressed that the attack was carried out by Israeli forces alone, adding that American officials were informed in advance.

Israeli media reported that the strikes were carried out with stand-off weapons fired hundreds of kilometers from the target by F-15 and F-35 fighter jets, which had to be refueled in the air due to the large distances involved.

The IDF later released footage of the preparation of the F-15 squadrons before take-off.

תיעוד מרגעי ההיערכות ותמונות של מטוסי בז F15 בדרכם לתקיפה בתימן pic.twitter.com/fY8RtdzAbr

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 20, 2024

According to Ynet News, the flights may have been conducted with coordination and permission from Saudi Arabia. Israeli naval forces reportedly accompanied and covered the mission.

Local media reported that dozens of Yemenis were killed and wounded in the strikes that were targeting Iranian ammunition caches and oil depots, as well as a nearby airport.