Israel bombs ports and a power plant in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen

Israeli fighter jets bombed ports and a power plant in Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory on Friday, the Israeli military said, in the latest attempt to pressure the Houthis. Iran-backed armed group Ceasefire on Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Israel has escalated its strikes on the Houthis in recent weeks in response to repeated attacks by the Yemeni militia, which has opened fire on Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

United States and Britain It also struck Yemen Repeatedly trying to secure international waterways from Houthi attacks. But it has never been clear whether Israel and its allies will be able to force the Houthis to end their attacks through a bombing campaign.

The Israeli air force bombed the Hazeez power plant near Sanaa – the Houthi-controlled capital – not far from where thousands of Yemenis gathered for a weekly solidarity march with the Palestinians. The Israeli army said in a statement that the ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa, Yemen’s main oil export terminal, were also attacked.

Experts warned that attacking ports such as Hodeidah, a major channel for essential supplies in northern Yemen, could do so. Further aggravation What is already one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The United Nations says that millions of people in Yemen, rocked by civil war for more than a decade, face the risk of malnutrition.

The Israeli army said it struck targets at sites used by the Houthis for military purposes. Al-Masirah TV, affiliated with the Houthis, reported that a worker at the Haziz power station was injured. There were no other immediate reports of serious injuries.

Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, said in a statement: “The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed and the port of Ras Issa is on fire.” “The message is clear: anyone who harms Israel will be struck tenfold.”

The Houthis are located more than 1,000 miles from Israeli territory and have survived numerous efforts to defeat them since coming to power in Yemen’s decade-long civil war. The United States classifies the Houthis as a terrorist group, and some of its regional allies – such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have also targeted them.

Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza War, the Houthis have fired hundreds of missiles and drones into Israel. They have it too Global shipping hindered By shooting at passing commercial vessels in a declared attempt to impose a blockade on Israel.

Over the past two months, the Houthis have intensified their attacks, prompting Israelis across central Israel to rush for shelters late at night as air raid sirens sound. On Thursday, Houthi militants launched three drones towards Israeli territory. The Israeli army said it intercepted them all.

In response, Israel has bombed Yemen several times, sending its fighter jets over 1,000 miles to do so, but has struggled to subdue the Houthis decisively. The United States and its allies have repeatedly struck the Houthis over the past year without decisively deterring them from launching future attacks.

After the strikes on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us.”

On Friday, Mr. Katz threatened to kill Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the group’s leader, as well as its other leaders.

“No one is immune,” Mr. Katz said. “We will pursue you and destroy the terrorist infrastructure you have built. Israel’s long arm will reach you wherever you are.”

Jonathan ReesHe contributed reporting from Tel Aviv.