Posted on 12/18/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
The IDF struck Houthi targets in Yemen early on Thursday morning.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement, “A short while ago, following the approval of strike plans by the Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz, IAF fighter jets, with the direction of the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy, struck military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and in inland Yemen.”
The statement noted, “The Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel, including by attacking Israeli territory using UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles. Most of these projectiles were successfully intercepted.”
The targets struck by the IDF were used by the Houthi forces for military purposes, according to the IDF statement, which added, “The strikes degrade the Houthi terrorist regime, preventing it from exploiting the targets for military and terrorist purposes, including the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the region.”
“Over the past year,” the IDF said, “the Houthi terrorist regime has been operating with the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias in order to attack the State of Israel and Israeli civilians, undermine regional stability and disrupt global freedom of navigation.”
“The IDF is determined to continue operating against all threats posed to the citizens of the State of Israel, wherever necessary.”
Arab media reported that the Israeli air strikes targeted the port of Hodeidah as well as the capital Sanaa, a stronghold of the Houthi rebels. This marks the first time that Israel has conducted strikes in the Yemeni capital. The reports mentioned that, among other targets, two power stations were hit, one of which was destroyed.
Additionally, widespread power outages were reported across Sanaa.
Al-Arabiya reported that "dozens of Israeli fighter jets carried out the strikes in Yemen."
Earlier, sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and in many other towns across the Gush Dan, the Shfela (the Judaean Foothills) and Sharon regions after a ballistic missile was fired from Yemen towards the area.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated, "Following the sirens that sounded in numerous areas in central Israel, the IAF intercepted one missile that was launched from Yemen, before crossing into Israeli territory."
Rocket and missile sirens were sounded following the possibility of falling debris from the interception, it added.
Residents reported hearing explosions in the area. Following the interception, a fragment fell on a school in Ramat Efal, a neighborhood of the city of Ramat Gan. Significant damage was caused to the school building as well as to vehicles as a result of the fall, but no injuries were reported.
The Israel Police stated that they are conducting searches in the area to locate impact sites.
Magen David Adom stated that "as of now, no reports of injuries have been received, except for cases of anxiety and individuals who were injured while heading to shelter."
On Monday afternoon, sirens were activated throughout much of central Israel following the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen.
The IDF stated that the missile was intercepted by the IAF before it crossed into Israeli territory and that sirens were sounded due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception.
Hours earlier, an Israeli Navy missile boat intercepted a UAV that was launched from Yemen over the Mediterranean Sea.
The IDF noted that the UAV was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.