Benjamin Netnayahu says the Houthis will ‘continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against’ Israel.
At least one person was killed and several wounded after Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, local media reported.
The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported on Friday that airstrikes hit the western ports of Ras Isa and Hodeidah, the central Hezyaz power plant near Sana’a and the Harf Sufyan district of Amran province.
An employee at the port of Ras Isa was killed and six others were injured, the newspaper said.
A worker at the Hezyay power plant was among three people wounded and numerous houses damaged in 13 strikes aimed at the power plant, Al Masirah reported.
The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging its strikes, claiming that the plant served “as a central source of energy for Huti terrorist regime in its military activities”.
“The State of Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself,” the statement added, alluding to Houthi drone and missile attacks launched against Israel and attacks on ships in the Red Sea believed to be linked to the nation.
In recent days, the Houthis have fired three drones at Israel’s commercial hub of Tel Aviv and multiple drones and missiles at the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said.
Yemeni political commentator Hussain al-Bukhaiti told Al Jazeera that it was “clear” that the Israeli military “has no idea where the Yemeni military installations are”.
He said the Houthis would continue their attacks on Israel, citing rumors they could use “new types of hypersonic ballistic missiles” to hit “legitimate targets” such as “their power plant and airport.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Houthis were being punished for repeated attacks on his country.
“As we promised, the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a high price for their aggression against us,” he said, vowing not to tolerate attacks on Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would “hunt down” the Houthi leaders.
“The port of Hodeidah is paralyzed and the port of Ras Isa is on fire – there will be no immunity for anyone,” he said in a video statement.
