SANAA/JERUSALEM - Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah province on Monday, wounding at least 21 people and causing extensive damage, Houthi-run media and residents said, a day after the militant group claimed a missile attack near Tel Aviv's main airport.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that at least 48 airstrikes hit the Red Sea province, targeting the port city of Hodeidah, its airport, a cement factory, and military positions northeast of the city.
Health officials affiliated with the Houthis said 21 people were wounded in a strike on the cement plant.
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Residents told Xinhua that infrastructure at the port, including cargo handling facilities, was damaged or destroyed. Several private factories were also reportedly hit. Plumes of smoke rose across the city, with residents describing the bombardment as paralyzing urban life.
Some witnesses said there were fatalities, citing the sound of ambulances and chaotic scenes, but no confirmed death toll was immediately available.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation, saying approximately 20 warplanes struck Houthi targets along Yemen's western coast using 50 precision-guided munitions. The targets, the IDF said, included what it called the "infrastructure of the Houthi terror regime". The mission was conducted about 1,700 km from Israel.
The Houthi group claimed the attacks on Hodeidah were carried out jointly by the United States and Israel. The IDF statement made no mention of US involvement.
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The IDF said the strikes were "in response to repeated assaults by the Houthi regime against the State of Israel", referencing recent missile and drone attacks.
Separately, Al-Masirah and local sources reported at least 20 US airstrikes on Monday targeting Houthi-controlled sites in the capital Sanaa, as well as in the northern provinces of Marib and Al-Jawf. There was no immediate comment from US Central Command.
The escalation follows a Houthi-claimed missile strike on Sunday near Ben Gurion Airport, outside Tel Aviv. Eight people were wounded and airport operations were briefly halted. Israeli officials acknowledged that missile defense systems had failed to intercept the projectile despite multiple attempts.
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The Houthis said the strike was retaliation for Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged a forceful response, including against what he called the group's backers in Iran.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and Hodeidah, have repeatedly launched missiles and drones toward Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes in recent months. They say the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians and will continue until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza and allows unfettered humanitarian access.
