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29 September 2024 Israeli attacks on Yemen

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29 September 2024 Israeli attacks on Yemen
Part of the Red Sea crisis and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
TypeAirstrikes
Locations
Ras Isa, Yemen
TargetPower plants, fuel facilities
Date29 September 2024
Executed by Israel Defense Forces
Casualties6 dead, 57+ injured

On 29 September 2024, Israel launched attacks in Yemen against the ports of Al Hudaydah and Ras Isa, both located in the Houthi-controlled part of the country, using F-15I, F-35I Adir, and F-16I aircraft.[1] Six people were killed[2][3] and at least 57 were injured.[2][4] Widespread power outages were caused in the city of Hodeida itself.[4] The attacks caused significant damage to Yemeni port facilities and power generating stations.[4]

The Israeli attacks were in response to missile fire from the Houthis directed at Israel. The Houthis said their missile attacks are part of a broader campaign to express solidarity with the people of Gaza and Lebanon.[5][6] This was the second major Israeli retaliatory strike against the Houthis since Operation Outstretched Arm on 20 July 2024, which saw Israeli aircraft attacking the Al Hudaydah port.

Background

War in Yemen

The Houthi movement, officially "Ansar Allah", is Islamist group in Yemen that follows the Shiite Zaydi faith.[7] The movement has been fueled by decades of discrimination against the Shi'ites in Yemen and took power in 2014.[7] In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies, with American support, launched a war against the Houthis, and imposed a naval and air blockade. The resulting famine has killed an estimated 150,000 people.[7] They were designated a terrorist organization by the United States,[8][9] Saudi Arabia,[10] United Arab Emirates,[11] Malaysia,[12] and Australia.[13][14] The group has called for the destruction of Israel.[7] The movement, whose militants oppose Yemen's internationally recognized government, has controlled a considerable swath of the country's territory along the Red Sea since 2014.

Spillover of the Israel–Hamas war

After the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli invasion and bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the Houthis launched retaliatory attacks on Israel, promising to continue them until "Israeli aggression stops."[7][15][16]

Houthi attacks on international shipping vessels in the Red Sea were deemed by some as international piracy,[17][18] drawing a military response from a number of countries. In January 2024, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2722, condemning the Houthi attacks and affirming freedom of navigation.[19] The United States-led Operation Prosperity Guardian was launched to protect Red Sea shipping. Since 12 January, the US and UK have led coalition air and missile strikes against the Houthis, while other countries are independently patrolling the waters near Yemen.[20]

On 19 July a drone launched by Houthi militants from Yemen hit Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring 10 others.[21][22]

The next day, Israel attacked the Hodeidah port in Yemen, killing 14 people and injuring 90. Houthi officials condemned the Israeli attacks, and said they will not stop until what they called "the genocide in Gaza" is stopped.[23] Among those killed in the Israeli attacks were 12 employees of the Yemen Petroleum Corporation.[24] The attacks reportedly targeted a power station,[25][26] and caused power outages for the local population.[27]

Attacks

The Israeli military said it used "dozens" of aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes, to make the attacks some 1,800 km from Israel.[28]

Targets

According to early reports the targets were fuel facilities, power stations and docks at the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports.[6] The attacks killed one port worker and three electrical engineers.[5] Residents said the attacks power outages in most of Hodeidah.[6]

Israel acknowledged that the ports are used to import oil, but said they are also used to import weapons and the oil can be used for military purposes.[28]

Reactions

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes, labeling them "inhumane" and accusing the United States of backing Israeli attacks against civilian facilities.[5]

Israeli defence minister tweeted “Our message is clear, for us, no place is too far” in reference to the long distance traversed to conduct the attacks.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ Suciu, Peter (23 July 2024). "The Houthis Freaked: Israel Attacks with F-35I Adir Stealth Fighter". The National Interest. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Siddiqui, Usaid; Varshalomidze, Tamila; Najjar, Farah (30 September 2024). "Death toll in yesterday's Israeli attacks on Yemen rises". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 September 2024. Al Jazeera's correspondent reports, citing Yemen's Houthis, that six people were killed and 57 others wounded when Israelis bombed Hodeidah and Ras Issa yesterday.
  3. ^ "Israel attacks Lebanon live: Israel announces ground operation in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. 30 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen, killing at least four people". Reuters.
  5. ^ a b c "Israeli army launches air raids on Yemen's Ras Isa and Hodeidah". Al Jazeera.
  6. ^ a b c Burke, Jason; Beaumont, Peter; Christou, William (29 September 2024). "Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen as it continues to bomb Lebanon". The Guardian.
  7. ^ a b c d e Jeffery, Jack (15 November 2023). "Yemen's Houthis have launched strikes at Israel during the war in Gaza. What threat do they pose?". AP News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  8. ^ Hansler, Jennifer (17 January 2024). "Biden administration re-designates Houthis as Specially Designated Global Terrorists". CNN. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ Crowley, Michael (17 January 2024). "U.S. to Return Houthis to Terrorism List". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Saudi Arabia designates Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group". Reuters. 7 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. ^ "مجلس الوزراء يعتمد قائمة التنظيمات الإرهابية. | Wam". Archived from the original on 17 November 2014.
  12. ^ "List of Individuals, Entities and Other Groups and Undertakings Declared by the Minister of Home Affairs As Specified Entity Under Section 66B(1)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Listed terrorist organisations: Ansar Allah". Australia Government. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  14. ^ Halpern, Sam (24 May 2024). "Australia officially designates Houthis as a terrorist organization". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  15. ^ Shurafa, Wafaa; al-Haj, Ahmed; Jeffery, Jack (20 July 2024). "Israeli military says it has struck Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks". AP News. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Yemen's Houthis to step up Red Sea strikes, use 'submarine weapons,' leader says".
  17. ^ "Houthi Attacks on International Shipping". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  18. ^ Marks, Simon (3 July 2024). "Houthi Threat Triggers Surge in Pirate Attacks Off Somalia Coast". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: Issues for Congress". Congressional Research Service. 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024. Many Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have not appeared discriminate or linked to stated demands. Since October 17, the Houthis have attacked commercial and naval vessels more than 60 times (Figure 1)
  20. ^ Liebermann, Oren; Bertrand, Natasha (23 January 2024). "US names campaign to target Houthis in Yemen "Operation Poseidon Archer"". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  21. ^ Sobelman, Gabby; Boxerman, Aaron; Bergman, Ronen; Jakes, Lara; Mendell, Erin (19 July 2024). "Houthis Launch Deadly Drone Strike on Tel Aviv, Evading Israel's Defenses". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ Yosef, Eugenia; Hansler, Jennifer; Kourdi, Eyad; Magramo, Kathleen (19 July 2024). "Israel investigates security failures around deadly Tel Aviv drone strike". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  23. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (21 July 2024). "Everything to know about Israeli and Houthi attacks amid war on Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  24. ^ "اليمن.. ارتفاع حصيلة قتلى الغارات الإسرائيلية إلى 14 قتيلا" [Yemen: Death toll from Israeli airstrikes rises to 14]. Sky News Arabia (in Arabic). 21 July 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Hodeidah attacks latest blow to Yemen's war-ravaged oil sector".
  26. ^ "Israeli airstrikes hit Yemeni oil depot in al-Hudaydah". Mehr News Agency. 20 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Israeli military airstrikes hit Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to attacks". CBS News. 20 July 2024.
  28. ^ a b c "Dozens of Israeli planes strike port, power plants in Yemen after Houthi missile attacks".