Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran-Backed Houthis in Response to Rocket Attacks
Israel military forces launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday night, in response to a barrage of cross-border rocket attacks that struck Israeli interests in the region.
The strikes, codenamed "Operation Night Prowler," targeted several prominent Houthi military installations and command centers in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, as well as in surrounding provinces. The Israeli military says the attacks were designed to degrade Houthi capabilities and disrupt their flow of supplies and weapons from Iran.
"For too long, the Houthis have been using Yemen as a stage for their aggression against Israel," IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi said in a statement. "Now, we are taking decisive action to impose a price on their actions, and to protect our citizens."
The rocket attacks that prompted Israeli retaliation began on Tuesday afternoon, when a barrage of rockets scored direct hits on a gas cylinder storage facility in the Israeli metropolis of Ashdod and wounded several people. The attacks also reached as far north as Netanya, a coastal city located directly north of Tel Aviv.
As the rockets rained down from the north, Israeli air defenses illuminated the sky with bright tracings of anti-missile fire, and sirens could be heard blaring across the country warning of incoming attacks.
In announcing the retaliatory strikes against Houthis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also accused Iran of being the driving force behind the attacks, and vowed to crack down on Tehran’s "Iranian proxies" in the region.
"Just as we will not tolerate harm to our citizens, we will not condone the Iranian regime’s cynical use of its proxies to destabilize the region," Netanyahu said.
Following the Israeli strikes, Houthi armed forces issued a statement vowing to continue their resistance against Israel.
"We will not be deterred, and we will not be defeated. Resistance is our right, and we will respond to the Israeli aggression with all forces at our disposal," the statement reads.
The conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthis has drawn in several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt – all of which have been supporting counter-Houthi forces in Yemen to varying degrees.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for a ceasefire on the Yemeni front, but years of fighting have left significant portions of the country in ruins, pushed millions to the brink of famine, and sowed chaos throughout the region. Now, with Israel’s retaliatory actions only adding to the mix, fears abound that the conflict could escalate perilously.
As the situation remain fluid, one thing is clear – the stakes are high, and the Israeli military is prepared to take full advantage of its technological superiority on the battlefield to protect its citizens and sovereignty.