A series of Israeli strikes have been launched against the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeidah in Yemen.
The attack on oil refinery facilities resulted in fatalities in the western coastal city, according to the Houthis’ own TV station Al Masirah.
Explosions were reportedly heard throughout the city during the bombardment, citizens told the Reuters news agency.
The strikes come a day after the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone strike near the US embassy in central Tel Aviv, which left one person dead and injured up to 10 others.
It is believed to be the first Israeli strikes on Yemeni soil since the conflict with Hamas in Gaza began in October.
The Israeli military said in a statement on Saturday: “A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah [Hodeidah] Port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months.”
One Israeli official said it updated its allies before carrying out the strike.
‘The significance is clear’
Issuing a statement on the attack, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said that the “fire currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear”.
He added: “The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required.”
Meanwhile, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam wrote on social media platform X that “blatant Israeli aggression” targeted fuel storage facilities and the province’s power station.
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Friday: Houthis claim drone strike
He said the attacks will only make the people of Yemen and its armed forces more determined to support Gaza.
A series of Houthi-launched attacks have also targeted Western shipping using the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Earlier on Saturday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received reports of two attacks on a vessel 64 nautical miles (118.5 km) northwest of Yemen’s Mokha, causing slight damage.
The captain of the vessel reported attacks by an aerial drone, which exploded close to the vessel and by a seaborne drone, which also exploded nearby.
The Houthi-held Red Sea port of Hodeidah. File pic: Reuters
A maritime security source told Reuters that the ship, which has been identified as a Liberia-flagged container ship, was attacked by a skiff (small rowing boat) and drones.
Another attack occurred 83 nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni city of Aden late on Friday, when a Singapore-flagged vessel was damaged by a Houthi strike.
The UKMTO said that incident was still under investigation.
