Israel struck targets in Yemen on Monday night, the Israeli military said, one day after the Iranian backed Houthis fired a ballistic missile that hit Israel’s main airport.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to retaliate at a time and place of Israel’s choosing and promised Sunday that a powerful response would be coming.
The Houthi-run Ministry of Health said at least one person had been killed and another 35 injured in an Israeli strike on a cement factory in Bajil, east of Hodeidah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that 20 of its fighter jets took part in the mission – the first Israeli strikes in Yemen in months – hitting dozens of Houthi targets in Hodeidah and surrounding areas.
“The seaport in Hodeidah is used for the transfer of Iranian weapons, equipment for military purposes, and other terror-related need,” the IDF said in a statement. Israeli fighter jets also targeted a cement factory east of Hodeidah for its use in the construction of tunnels and military infrastructure, the IDF said.
The Houthi-run TV channel Al-Masirah said the port of Hodeidah was hit at least six times, as well as confirming the attack on the nearby cement factory.
The Israeli military made several attempts to intercept the ballistic missile fired at Tel Aviv on Sunday, but failed to bring it down, resulting in a successful attack on the heavily defended facility. The strike appeared to be the first time Israel’s international airport has been successfully targeted by the group.
On Sunday night, the Iran-backed rebel group said it would “impose a comprehensive air blockade” on Israel by “repeatedly targeting airports,” especially Ben Gurion. It called on international airlines to plan accordingly and cancel all scheduled flights to Israeli airports.