Israel Intercepts Missile from Yemen Amid Escalating Conflict with Houthi Rebels

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21st July 2024

On Sunday, the Israeli military successfully intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, a significant development following Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in the Arabian Peninsula. The airstrikes, conducted by Israeli F-15 and F-35 warplanes, were in response to a deadly Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv. This confrontation marks a notable escalation as Israel’s nine-month war against Hamas appears to be widening, potentially opening a new front in its regional conflict.

The Israeli airstrikes targeted the western Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, a known Houthi stronghold. This action is reported to be one of the longest-distance and most complex operations ever carried out by the Israeli Air Force. Hodeidah, being a critical hub for the delivery of Iranian arms to Yemen, was specifically targeted due to its strategic importance. The strikes resulted in significant damage, including a massive fire at the port, and according to Yemen’s Ministry of Health, 80 people were wounded, many suffering severe burns.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the gravity of the strikes, stating that the fire in Hodeidah is visible across the Middle East and pledging that similar operations would be conducted wherever necessary. The Houthis, supported by Iran, are among several groups that have attacked Israel in solidarity with Hamas. The ongoing conflict has seen Israel engaged in daily clashes with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

The Hodeidah port also serves as a vital supply route for Yemen, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. The conflict began when the Houthis took control of northern Yemen, leading to a Saudi-led coalition’s intervention. This proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran has claimed over 150,000 lives and resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.

In response to the Israeli airstrikes, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned what he described as “blatant Israeli aggression,” accusing Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure such as fuel storage facilities and power stations. He claimed that these attacks are intended to increase suffering and pressure Yemen to cease its support for Gaza. Houthi leaders, including Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, have vowed retaliatory strikes, indicating a deepened resolve to support Gaza despite the Israeli actions.

On Sunday, the Houthis were also reported to have targeted a Liberia-flagged container vessel, the Pumba, in the Red Sea. The attack involved multiple Houthi vessels, an uncrewed aerial vehicle, and missile fire, causing minor damage to the ship. The British military confirmed that all crew members were safe and that the vessel had sustained only minor damage.

Since January, U.S. and U.K. forces have been targeting sites in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, which the rebels have framed as retaliation for Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict. However, many of the targeted ships had no connection to Israel. On Sunday, officials reported that the Houthis had repeatedly struck a Liberia-flagged container vessel traversing the Red Sea, marking the latest in a series of assaults by the group on this vital maritime route.

The ship’s captain reported attacks from three small Houthi vessels, an uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle, and missile fire near Mocha, Yemen, causing “minor damage” to the vessel, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a coalition under the U.S. Navy, identified the vessel as the Pumba and confirmed that “all crew on board are safe.” The Houthis took responsibility for the Pumba attack early Sunday. On Saturday, U.S. Central Command reported that its forces had downed one uncrewed Houthi aerial vehicle over the Red Sea.

Western analysts and intelligence services have long alleged that Iran supplies arms to the Houthis, a claim Tehran denies. Despite ongoing joint force airstrikes, the Houthis have not been significantly deterred. According to weapons experts, the Houthis possess long-range ballistic missiles, smaller cruise missiles, and “suicide drones,” all capable of reaching southern Israel. The Houthis frequently showcase their arsenal, parading new missiles through the streets of Sanaa.