Israel launches air strikes on Yemen to target Houthi leaders

 Israel has launched air strikes on Yemen, targeting a power station where Houthi leaders were gathered.

The Israeli military said it attacked energy infrastructure belonging to the Houthi rebels more than 1,000 miles away from Tel Aviv.

The attack came in response to the Houthi rebels’ repeated ballistic missile and drone attacks against Israel, the first of which were launched in solidarity with Hamas in October 2023.

The IDF said that the Houthi “terrorist regime” operates under the direction and funding of the Iranian regime, to “harm Israel and its allies”.

“The terrorist regime exploits the maritime domain to project force and carry out terror activity against global shipping and trade routes,” the army added.

Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said explosions were heard at the Haiz power plant near the capital of Sanaa, but fell short of blaming Israel.

Local reports suggest that Houthi leaders were inside the plant’s control room when it was struck by missiles. Power went and a fire broke out.

It is understood that the Israeli navy carried out the operation. Israel has launched several large-scale attacks on Houthi-controlled targets since July last year, including the al-Hudaydah Port, the international airport in Sanaa, as well as energy infrastructure.

The Houthis began attacking shipping in the Red Sea in October 2023, in what they said was a response to Israel’s attack on Gaza following the Oct 7 terror attacks.

They have vowed to continue their campaign until the war in Gaza is over, which dragged Western nations – led by the US – into the conflict.

The coalition, which includes the UK, launched dozens of attacks against the Houthis before the US struck a ceasefire with the group in May.

However, the Houthis continued their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea last month, sinking the Liberia-flagged Eternity C. Four crew members died in the assault, while around a dozen were taken hostage. One sailor lost a leg, according to the European Union’s naval operation in the Red Sea.

A few days earlier the group attacked a Greek-operated vessel, the Magic Seas.

Israel has long accused Iran of directly funding the Houthis while supplying it with ballistic missiles.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that a major shipment of Iranian-made missiles, drone components, and other military equipment destined for the Houthis was intercepted by Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The seizure, described by US officials as one of the largest ever, raised fresh concerns that Tehran is pushing ahead with efforts to reinforce its allies and destabilise the region despite its diminished position.

US Central Command said the Houthi-bound shipment contained 750 tonnes of weaponry, including cruise missiles, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads and drone engines.