Israeli airstrikes target Houthi ports in Yemen after missile attack on Israel

In the early hours of Thursday, December 19, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Yemen. The strikes were a direct response to a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels at central Israel. The missile, launched from Yemen, was intercepted by the Israeli Arrow defense system outside Israeli airspace. No casualties were reported from the missile impact; however, falling shrapnel caused extensive damage to buildings and parked vehicles in the city of Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, including the collapse of a school building.

The missile attack prompted sirens across central Israel, leading to the activation of emergency shelters for millions of civilians in the region. The IDF confirmed that the missile was intercepted outside Israeli airspace, but the debris from the interception caused damage to property in the Tel Aviv suburb. The military is investigating the damage caused by the shrapnel, as similar incidents in the past have resulted in falling warhead debris causing significant destruction. In addition to the missile, the Houthis have launched a drone strike at Israel earlier in the week.

In response to the missile attack, the IDF launched airstrikes on key Houthi targets, including ports and energy infrastructure. The IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out precision strikes on three key port facilities controlled by the Houthis: Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif. These ports are crucial for the Houthis' access to shipping lanes and the transfer of supplies, including arms and fuel. The IDF also targeted power stations in Sana’a, the rebel-held capital of Yemen, marking the first time the IDF has struck targets in the city. The strikes were conducted in two waves, with the first wave hitting port infrastructure and the second targeting power stations.

The operation, planned for weeks by the Israeli military, involved 14 IAF fighter jets, along with refuelers and spy planes. Military sources indicated that the IAF jets were already en route to Yemen when the missile was launched from Yemen at Israel. According to the IDF, the strikes were aimed at crippling Houthi military capabilities and preventing the group from using the infrastructure for operations targeting Israeli interests. The IDF also emphasized that these strikes were a response to ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel, which have intensified over the past year.

Since the start of the conflict, the Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel, with the vast majority intercepted by Israeli defenses or destroyed before reaching their targets. The missile on Thursday was the second missile fired at Israel in a matter of days, following a drone strike earlier in the week. The Houthis' missile and drone campaign has also included attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, which Israel and other nations have described as a threat to global shipping routes.

The IDF has repeatedly stated that Iran has been behind the Houthis' military capabilities, providing funding, training, and weapons. The Israeli military has accused the Houthis of becoming a regional and global threat, not only due to their missile and drone attacks on Israel but also for their actions targeting international shipping in the Red Sea. The IDF has committed to continuing its operations against the Houthis and other Iranian-backed groups in the region, emphasizing that any entity posing a threat to Israel's security will face retaliation.

Following the Israeli airstrikes, the Houthis confirmed damage to power stations and port infrastructure in Hodeida and Sana’a, with reports indicating that at least nine people were killed. The Houthis have not yet officially claimed responsibility for the missile fired at Israel, but a statement is expected soon. The rebel group has repeatedly targeted commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, some of which had connections to Israel or other Western countries, and has vowed to continue these operations until Israel ceases its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.