IDF Intercepts Houthi Missile Following Retaliatory Strikes in Yemen

By The Media Line Staff

Israeli fighter jets conducted a significant airstrike on military targets in Hodeidah, Yemen, on Saturday, reportedly killing at least three people and injuring 87 others. Following the airstrikes, the IDF successfully intercepted a ballistic missile from Yemen aimed at Israel.

The targeted sites included oil facilities and a power station, escalating tensions in a region already deeply affected by conflict. According to reports from Al-Masirah TV, the main news outlet run by Yemen’s Houthi movement, many of the wounded suffered severe burns due to the strikes.

Residents of Hodeidah described an intense night of bombardment that caused widespread panic and damage throughout the city. Israel’s military has stated that these sites were used by the Houthis to receive arms shipments from Iran, marking them as dual-use military and civilian infrastructure.

This military action comes just a day after a drone attack in Tel Aviv, which Israeli officials attribute to the Iranian-backed Houthis. The attack in Israel’s economic hub resulted in one fatality and several injuries, increasing fears of a wider regional conflict amidst the ongoing Gaza war initiated by a Hamas-led attack on October 7.

In response to the attack, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the necessity of the strikes, asserting that over 200 Houthi attacks had targeted Israel prior to this retaliation. The Israeli military’s spokesperson highlighted the strategic use of F-15 fighters in the operation, noting that all aircraft returned safely and that the operation was communicated to international allies beforehand.

The Houthi’s Supreme Political Council warned of an effective response, signaling potential further escalations. Meanwhile, international reactions have been swift, with Iran condemning the strikes as risky and likely to increase regional tensions. Hezbollah also criticized the action, marking it as a dangerous escalation in an already volatile situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes as necessary for national defense and urged international support against what he described as Iran’s “axis of evil.” He stressed the importance of securing maritime routes and combating Iranian influence in the region. “The port that was targeted is not an innocent port. It’s used as their entry point for weapons that are supplied by Iran to its Houthi terrorist proxies,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “‏The Houthis have used those weapons to attack Israel, to attack Arab states in the region, to attack many others.”

Early on Sunday, the IDF reported that a missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis was detected and neutralized by Israel’s advanced Arrow 3 defense system before it could enter Israeli airspace. This high-altitude interception system, designed to destroy ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, was crucial in preventing potential casualties and damage in Israel’s southernmost city, Eilat, which has been a recurring target for Houthi missile and drone attacks.