Israel’s military attacked Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport on Wednesday, targeting the last remaining airplane used by the Houthi rebel group for ballistic missile launches against Israel. The attack comes after multiple strikes on Houthi assets in the past several months.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel is imposing an aerial and naval blockade to deter future attacks from the Houthis. However, this does not mean a physical blockade of Israeli naval ships near Yemen’s coast to disrupt maritime commerce.
Instead, repeated attacks on Houthi ports and airports will prevent other countries or businesses from entering those areas due to fear of getting caught up in the conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Houthis, stating that they are “just the symptom” of the problem. He claimed that Iran is responsible for backing the group and urged restraint against any country that does not understand this through force.
Since the start of the war, Houthi rebels have fired over 400 times at Israel using ballistic missiles and drones. While one Israeli was killed by a drone in July 2024, missile attacks have disrupted life in Israel, forcing millions to seek shelter and causing international airlines to withdraw from flying to Israel.
In recent months, Israel has carried out around 10 strikes on Houthi assets, including the Port of Hodeidah and Sanaa International Airport. A previous deal between the Trump administration and Yemen’s terrorist group led to Washington leaving Israel to handle the situation with the Houthis.
Experts believe that stopping the Houthis from firing at Israel requires either another ceasefire with Hamas or assistance to their Sunni opponents in Yemen. However, without US support, Israel lacks sufficient power to help these opponents gain control of the country.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-855713