Tel Aviv, Israel retaliated for a Houthi drone attack with airstrikes in Yemen on Saturday, targeting storage facilities for oil and diesel at a port. The strikes in the port city of Hodeidah, also hit a local electricity company, causing deaths, injuries, and a large fire. Power cuts were widespread as a result.

Health officials in Yemen confirmed casualties from the airstrikes, but did not provide further details. The Israeli military stated that the airstrikes were in response to previous attacks against Israel by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The U.S. confirmed Israel’s involvement in the retaliatory strikes.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam denounced the airstrikes as Israeli aggression, aimed at increasing suffering and pressure on Yemen to stop supporting Gaza. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant emphasized that the retaliation was due to the first direct harm to an Israeli citizen by the Houthi rebels.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the airstrikes, stating that the targeted port was not innocent and served as an entry point for weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran. He warned Israel’s enemies of severe consequences for any aggression against the country.

In response, the U.S. reiterated its commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. The Houthi rebels, engaged in a prolonged civil war in Yemen, claimed responsibility for a drone attack in Tel Aviv that led to the airstrikes.

The recent escalation highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, with Israel taking decisive action against perceived threats. The conflict underscores the complexities and challenges faced by both Israel and Yemen in a volatile geopolitical landscape.