Israel has significantly escalated regional tensions by launching airstrikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, including the strategic port of Hodeidah. This marks the first time Israel has directly struck Yemen, responding to what Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described as ‘hundreds of attacks’ against Israel in recent months. The strikes resulted in at least 6 deaths and 83 injuries, with reports of oil tanks set ablaze.The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have vowed a ‘huge response’ to the Israeli aggression. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi stated that the strikes would lead to ‘further escalation and more attacks targeting Israel’. This threat materialized quickly, with Israel intercepting a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday.Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza continues unabated. Israeli forces have reportedly launched over 60 attacks on the Nusayrat refugee camp in central Gaza over the past week, resulting in at least 91 Palestinian deaths and 251 injuries. The total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has now reached a staggering 38,983.The widening of the conflict has raised alarm among regional powers. Saudi Arabia warned that Israel’s attack on Hodeidah ‘aggravates the current tension in the region and halts the ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza’. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the war’s expansion.Amid these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington to discuss the situation and attempt to find a solution. However, with the conflict now spanning multiple fronts – Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen – the path to de-escalation appears increasingly complex.
Key points
- Israel has conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the port of Hodeidah, in response to attacks on Israel.
- Houthi rebels have vowed retaliation, threatening to escalate the conflict further.
- The conflict in Gaza continues, with recent Israeli attacks on refugee camps resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties.
- Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have expressed concern about the widening conflict.
Contradictions👾There are varying reports on the number of casualties from the Israeli strikes in Yemen, with some sources reporting 6 deaths and others mentioning 8.
