Israel Vows Strong Retaliation After Houthi Missile Attack On Tel Aviv

Houthi hit Sounion — Image Credits: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES/X

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would continue to take strong action against the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, after a missile fired from Yemen struck Tel Aviv on Saturday, injuring 16 people, according to Israeli emergency authorities.

Netanyahu condemned the attack and made it clear that Israel would respond “with force” against the Houthis. He said, “Just as we acted forcefully against the terrorist arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so we will act against the Houthis.”

He warned that the result would be the same as Israel’s previous actions against groups supported by Iran.

The Houthis have been targeting Israel and international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023. They say their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel.

In response to the missile strike, Israel launched airstrikes on Thursday, targeting energy and port infrastructure in Yemen. These strikes were a response to hundreds of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis since the war in Gaza began 14 months ago.

The United States also conducted airstrikes on Houthi missile storage and command-and-control facilities in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, reporting that it shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship missile over the Red Sea.

“The U.S., as well as other countries, see the Houthis as a threat not only to international shipping but to the international order,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.

Netanyahu described the Houthis as one of the last arms of Iran’s “axis of evil,” which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria. He reiterated that Israel would continue to take action against anyone who harms it, stating that the Houthis would “pay a very heavy price” for their attacks on Israel.

Alongside its fight against the Houthis, Israel is also battling Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon and has been involved in military operations in Syria. These efforts have targeted Iranian-backed groups across the region, including killing Hamas leaders and Iranian commanders.

References: Reuters, TOI

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