Israel carried out its largest air strike against Yemen one day after a drone attack injured over 20 people in Israel.
On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a strike on Houthi military and “security and intelligence apparatus” targets with 20 fighter jets, accompanied by fuel tankers and spy planes. The 19th Israeli attack on the Houthis was the largest yet, dropping 65 munitions on seven Houthi targets.
“We have now delivered a powerful strike on numerous terror targets of the Houthi terror organization in Sana’a as part of Operation ‘Passing Package,'” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said. “Air Force aircraft attacked several military camps, including a camp of the Houthi General Staff, eliminated dozens of Houthi terror operatives, and destroyed stockpiles of UAVs and weaponry.”
POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THE RISE IN THE US: A TIMELINE OF KEY INCIDENTS
“As I promised yesterday – whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold,” he added.
The targets included the headquarters of the Houthis’ general staff, military camps, and the headquarters of the Houthis’ propaganda department. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah television said the strike occurred just moments before it was set to air its weekly speech from Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
The attack was in retaliation for a suicide drone attack on the Israeli resort town of Eilat on Wednesday. The drone evaded Israel’s air defenses and injured 48 Israeli civilians on impact, two seriously, according to the Israeli emergency medical service, Magen David Adom.
An initial inquiry from the IDF found that two Iron Dome missiles had failed to intercept the drone, possibly due to its low altitude.
HOUTHI PRIME MINISTER KILLED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES IN YEMEN
Israel has stepped up its attacks against the Houthis over the past few months after a U.S.-led Coalition failed to stop its attacks on Red Sea shipping and drone and missile attacks against Israel.
Late last month, Israel launched its most impactful strike, killing Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several Houthi ministers. The group has continued to target Israel with drone and missile strikes since.
