Israel launches airstrikes on power station, ports in Yemen | News of the Houthis

Benjamin Netnayahu says the Houthis will ‘continue to pay a heavy price for their attacks’ on Israel.

At least one person has been killed and several others injured after Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen, local media reported.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV broadcaster reported on Friday that the airstrikes hit the western ports of Ras Isa and Hodeidah, the Hezyaz Central Power Station near Sanaa, and the Harf Sufyan district in Amran province.

A worker at the port of Ras Isa died and six others were injured, the source said.

A worker at the Hezyay power plant was among three people injured and a number of homes were damaged in 13 strikes targeting the plant, Al Masirah reported.

The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging its strikes, saying the power plant served as “a source of power for the Houthi terrorist regime in its military operations”.

“The state of Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself,” the statement said, referring to the Houthi floods and missile attacks on Israel and attacks on ships in the Red Sea that are considered allied to the nation.

In recent days, the Houthis shot down three drones at the Israeli commercial center of Tel Aviv and other drones and missiles at the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, said Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree.

Yemeni political analyst Hussain al-Bukhaiti told Al Jazeera that it was “clear” the Israeli army “has no clue where Yemeni soldiers are being deployed”.

He said the Houthis would continue their attacks on Israel, referring to rumors that they might use “new types of hypersonic ballistic missiles” to hit “legitimate targets” such as “their power station and airport”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Houthis were being punished for their repeated attacks on his country.

“As we promised, the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their abuse of us,” he said, promising that he would not tolerate Israel’s attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will “hunt down” the Houthi leaders.

“The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed, and the port of Ras Isa is on fire – there will be no security for anyone,” he said in a video statement.