Israeli military airstrikes hit Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to attacks
Israel retaliated for the Houthi drone attack in Tel Aviv with airstrikes in Yemen on Saturday that reportedly struck storage facilities for oil and diesel at a port.
A media outlet controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen reported the airstrikes in the port city of Hodeidah, which also hit a local electricity company. Al-Masirah TV said the strikes caused deaths and injuries but gave no details, the Associated Press reported.
It said there was a large fire at the port and power cuts were widespread.
ongoing war against the Houthis’ ideological ally Hamas.
The Houthis said the strike used a “new drone called ‘Yafa’, which is capable of bypassing the enemy’s interception systems,” but a U.S. official told CBS News on Friday, echoing the Israeli military’s analysis, that it appeared to have been one of the group’s existing drones, with a modified fuel tank to extend its range.
The explosion caused by the drone was very near the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv, but it remained unclear whether that was the target.
Based on verified social media videos, CBS News confirmed the blast occurred a little more than 200 yards from the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv. A U.S. official told CBS News that no American casualties had been reported.
Since January, the U.S. and British forces have been striking targets in Yemen, in response to the Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping that the rebels have described as retaliation for Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza. However, many of the ships targeted are not linked to Israel.
The joint force airstrikes have so far done little to deter the Iran-backed force.
U.S., Israeli officials investigating Tel Aviv drone strike
01:51
The Houthis have launched drones and missiles at Israel and at commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters throughout the nine-month war, in solidarity with Hamas. But until Friday, all the weapons fired at Israel had been intercepted by either Israel or its Western allies.
CBS News’ Tucker Reals and Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.
Source: cbsnews.com