The Israeli Air Force is attacking targets in Yemen this evening (Monday), in direct response to the strike on Ben Gurion Airport by a Houthi-launched ballistic missile yesterday.
The attacks are aimed at the infrastructure of the Houthi organization, which operates as a proxy of Iran. Al-Arabiya has reported that more than 30 Israeli aircraft are participating in the attacks. There are reports of fatalities and injuries resulting from the airstrikes.
The Houthis have released a statement claiming that both Israel and the US were carrying out attacks in the city of Hodeidah.
An Israeli official confirmed that 48 munitions were dropped and that the port of Hodeidah suffered heavy damage. "50 munitions were dropped. We destroyed the port of Hodeidah and concrete factories that were used to produce weapons. This is a very heavy attack. The games are over."
The IDF stated, "A short while ago, IAF fighter jets struck terror targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime, along Yemen's coastline. The strike was conducted in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel, during which surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs were launched toward Israeli territory and its civilians."
"The terrorist infrastructure sites struck in the Hodeidah Port serve as a central supply source for the Houthi terrorist regime. The Hodeidah Port is used for the transfer of Iranian weapons, military equipment, and other equipment intended for terrorist purposes," it added.
"In addition, the IDF struck the "Bajil" Concrete Plant, east of the city of al-Hodeidah, which functions as a significant economic resource for the Houthis. Moreover, it is used for the construction of underground tunnels and terrorist infrastructure for the terrorist regime.
"This strike further degrades the Houthi regime’s economic and military buildup capabilities," the statement continued. "Over the past year and a half, the Houthi terrorist regime has been operating under Iranian direction and funding, in order to target the State of Israel and its allies, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation."
"The IDF is determined to continue operating, at any distance, against all threats posed to the citizens of the State of Israel," the military statement concluded.
The missile launch at Israel took place on Sunday afternoon, when a long-range missile was fired from Yemeni territory towards central Israel.
The missile hit an open area near the runway at Ben Gurion Airport, resulting in injuries to six civilians and causing a temporary delay in flights and several airlines to cancel their flights to and from Israel.