The escalating conflict between Israel and the Houthi rebel group in Yemen has intensified, with the Houthis vowing to continue their attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. The group’s political official, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, stated that the Houthis would escalate military actions until Israel halts what they describe as a “genocide” in Gaza. In response, Israel’s air strikes in Yemen have targeted key infrastructure, including Sanaa’s international airport, ports, and power stations, resulting in civilian casualties.
On the night of the latest attack, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile aimed at Israel. While the missile was intercepted before reaching its target, the group made it clear that they would not relent in their support for Palestinians and are committed to further escalating their operations. Al-Bukhaiti emphasized that Yemen is now confronting the US, UK, and Israel directly, framing their struggle as part of the broader regional battle against what they view as foreign intervention in Yemen’s civil war.
The Israeli government has responded forcefully to the missile and drone strikes launched by the Houthis, who have fired over 400 projectiles at Israel since October 2023. In retaliation, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “cut off this terrorist arm” of Iran’s influence in the region, declaring that the military strikes are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the Houthi threat. Netanyahu’s comments follow multiple rounds of Israeli air strikes aimed at Houthi military infrastructure, including airfields and power stations in Yemen.
The UN has expressed growing concern over the escalating violence, with Secretary-General António Guterres calling for all parties to cease military actions and exercise restraint. The strikes on Yemen’s civilian infrastructure, particularly the attacks on the Sanaa airport, have raised alarms about the safety of humanitarian operations in the country. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, narrowly avoided injury when a UN plane came under fire at the airport, highlighting the grave risks to aid efforts.
As the conflict grows more complex, the international community remains deeply concerned about the toll on civilians and the potential for further destabilization in an already fragile region.
