Explosions Rock Hodeidah as Israeli airstrikes hit strategic oil sites, marking a dramatic escalations in the region. Tensions flare as Israel retaliates for recent missile attacks, leaving destruction in its wake.
Israel Rocks Yemen
Israeli airstrikes hit the Yemeni port city of Hodeida on Sunday (Sep 29), according to Houthi media, a day after the rebel group, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for launching a missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
The air strikes killed four people and wounded more than 30, as per the Houthi media.
In a statement on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “In a large-scale air operation today, dozens of air force aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelling and intelligence planes, under the direction of the intelligence wing, attacked military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the areas of Ras Issa and Hodeidah in Yemen. The IDF attacked power plants and a seaport, which are used to import oil.”
“Through the attacked infrastructure and ports, the Houthi regime transfers Iranian weapons to the region, and supplies for military needs, and thus also oil. The attack was carried out in response to the latest attacks carried out by the Houthi regime against the State of Israel,” it added.
Iran’s statement on Israeli Airstrikes
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, criticised Israel’s recent airstrikes in Yemen, stating they had hit “civilian infrastructure” like fuel tanks and a power plant.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned Israel’s repeated assaults on nations within the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance.”
“Lebanese fighters should not be left alone in this battle so that the Zionist regime (Israel) does not attack Axis of Resistance countries one after the other,” Pezeshkian said.
Israel’s attack came just a day after it intercepted a missile fired by the Houthis from Yemen, which was aimed at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The Houthis claimed that the timing of their attack coincided with the return of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had just addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
