The IDF hit Yemen's Houthis with the most powerful counter-strike against them of the war on Sunday, even exceeding the massive strike on Hodeidah in July, sources told The Jerusalem Post and the IDF confirmed shortly thereafter.
Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in the operation, striking 1,800 kilometers from Israeli territory, after the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles on the Tel Aviv and central Israel areas in recent weeks, including one on Saturday.
The targets included power plants and a seaport used to import oil, which the Houthis used to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil, IDF reported.
According to Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al Mayadeen and confirmed by the IDF, the targets of the strikes were oil reserves in Ras Issa and also the port of Hodeidah.
⚡️عاجل⚡️ غارات اسرائيلية على مدينة الحديدة اليمنية قبل لحظات... pic.twitter.com/Y45cCSy5gD
— رؤى لدراسات الحرب (@Roaastudies) September 29, 2024
"Israeli aggression targets the city of Hodeidah," Houthi-owned Lebanese media Al Masirah posted.
The Houthi-run Al Masirah announced that the Civil Defense has begun working to put out the fire at the current power station, which was caused by the strikes.
In a statement published to the Al Masira X/Twitter account, visual spokesperson for the Houthis Mohammad Abdul Salam said, “The American-backed Zionist aggression is condemned, denounced and rejected and cannot affect the will of the Yemeni people. What the Yemeni people confirm in their million weekly demonstrations is that they will not abandon Gaza and Lebanon.”
Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force Tomer said in a statement, "Anyone who tries to harm the civilians of the State of Israel – we will reach them.”
Yemeni oil company statement
Al Masirah reported that the Yemeni Oil Company issued a statement reassuring citizens that all necessary precautions had been taken, stressing that the supply in all areas under their control was completely stable.
The company warned against creating a new oil crisis in the capital, Sana'a, and the rest of the governorates, explaining that it had previously taken precautions necessary for any emergency.
Hodeidah's electricity station and airport have both been targeted
Additionally, Al Mayadeen reported that Hodeidah's electricity station and airport have both been targeted by IDF strikes.
The IDF said its intelligence arm selected targets based on where Iran has been delivering weapons to the Houthis, mixing civilian locations with military use to then attack Israel.
The IDF added that the Houthis have been attacking Israel throughout this past year, not only this past month.
Over the year, the Houthis launched many ballistic missiles and drones at Eilat. In July, a drone from the Houthis killed a civilian in Tel Aviv.
Saturday's missile attack triggered sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, and although shrapnel was recovered on Route 375 near Tzur Hadassah, no injuries were reported.