In a series of escalating events, both Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have engaged in attacks against each other over the past few days. On July 20, Israeli fighter jets bombed sites in Yemen controlled by the Houthis as retaliation for a deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed one person and wounded several others.
The strikes targeted a power station, as well as gas and oil depots in the area of the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Israel said it had struck sites used for military purposes, but also attacked some 'dual use' targets that have both civilian and military functions.
Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari called the operation 'one of the farthest and longest ever conducted by the Israeli air force.' He claimed that the port was a major supply stop for Iran to funnel weapons to its Houthi allies in Yemen, who have fired over 200 missiles and drones at Israel over the past several months.
However, Hodeidah is also a crucial point for all goods, including desperately needed food and oil, to enter northwestern Yemen. At least two-thirds of the impoverished country's population lives under the Houthis' rule. The Ministry of Health in Houthi-controlled Sana reported at least 80 people were wounded in the attack.
On July 21, Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked two more ships, a Panama-flagged Israeli-owned MT Bently I and a Liberian-flagged Marshall Islands-owned oil tanker MT Chios Lion, in the Red Sea. Both ships and all crew were reported safe.
The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israel despite Israeli retaliation. They claim coordination with regional militias, specifically mentioning Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel intercepted a missile fired from Yemen towards the Red Sea resort town of Eilat on July 21. Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree responded by saying, 'The response to Israeli aggression against our country is inevitably coming and will be huge.'
These events come amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in dozens of deaths since Saturday. The international community, including the United States and various European countries, have called for a ceasefire.
