The Israel Defence Forces on the evening of May 5 claimed air strikes against Houthi targets in the Yemeni city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea coast, a day after the Iranian-backed group launched a rocket that landed near Israel’s main airport.
The 5 May strikes targeted the Yemeni port of Hodeidah and a cement factory in al-Hodeidah province, which are a source of funding for the Houthis, the Israeli military said.
“The strike was carried out in response to repeated attacks by the Houthis against Israel, during which surface-to-surface missiles” and drones were launched at Israeli civilians,” the statement said.
The Israeli army said more than 20 Israeli fighter jets took part in the operation.
At least 21 people were wounded in the strikes, the Houthi-led Health Ministry said.
The extent of the destruction caused by the strikes was not reported.
The day before, a ballistic missile fired from Yemen landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, several wounded were reported. Air traffic was briefly halted because of the attack.
Yemen’s Iran-linked Houthis, who claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, recently stepped up rocket launches into Israel, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis have previously launched rockets into Israel multiple times, demanding an end to fighting in the Gaza Strip. These rockets are usually shot down by air defence systems.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack was due to Iranian support for the Houthis and promised to respond to both the Yemeni group and Tehran.