Israel threatens to eliminate Houthi leaders after ‘raining’ bombs on Yemen ports

Israel has issued a direct warning to the leadership of Yemen’s Houthi rebels following airstrikes on two ports under rebel control, in response to a series of missile attacks launched at Israel earlier this week.

The Israeli military said its air force deployed 15 fighter jets to target what it described as weapons transfer sites at the Red Sea ports of Hodeida and Salif. These are among the few remaining key entry points for humanitarian aid into Yemen.

A correspondent for AFP in Hodeida reported multiple explosions during the operation. Houthi-run media and Yemen’s rebel health ministry confirmed at least one fatality and nine injuries in the aftermath of the strikes.

Despite a prior agreement with the United States to halt attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, the Huthis have continued firing missiles at Israel, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message:“We are not willing to sit on the sidelines and let the Houthis attack us. We will hit them far more, including their leadership and all the infrastructure that allows them to hit us.”

Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a more explicit threat, referencing previous assassinations of Hamas leaders:“If the Houthis continue to fire, we will also hit the heads of the terror groups, just as we did to (slain Hamas military chief Mohammed) Deif and (the) Sinwars (Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed Sinwar) in Gaza. We will also hunt down and eliminate the Houthi leader, Abd al-Malek al-Huthi.”

In early May, a Huthi missile struck near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, damaging infrastructure and injuring several individuals. Israel responded with strikes on Sanaa airport and surrounding power facilities.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg labeled the tit-for-tat escalation a “dangerous” development, underscoring Yemen’s entanglement in broader regional conflict:“It is a reminder that the war-torn country is ensnared in the wider regional tensions.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced a significant reduction in its humanitarian aid operations in Yemen due to a steep decline in funding. A January appeal for $2.4 billion to assist 10.5 million Yemenis has fallen short, with current efforts now targeting 8.8 million people with a revised budget of $1.4 billion.

Stephanie Tremblay, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, noted the shift in priorities due to constrained resources:“The cuts are putting millions of lives at risk around the world.”

UN agencies continue to scale back global operations amid waning international support, with the United States among major contributors reducing their commitments.

(AFP)