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Israeli air strikes on Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city on Thursday (local time) reportedly killed at least nine people after a Houthi missile was fired at central Israel.
The strikes risk further escalating Israel’s conflict with the Iranian-backed Houthis, whose attacks on the Red Sea corridor drastically affected global shipping.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is following “with grave concern” reports of Israeli air strikes around the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa, and on power stations in Sana’a in Yemen as well as concurrent ballistic missile launches by the Houthis that damaged a school in central Israel.
There were nine deaths and three injuries reported, he said.
“Initial reports indicated considerable damage to the Red Sea ports that will lead to the immediate and significant reduction in port capacity,” Guterres said.
He worried about a further escalation of violence and called for all sides to show restraint.
Media reports say Hamas, Israel and the US may have been close to a truce.
An Israeli Defence Forces statement claimed the Houthis used the sites “for military purposes”, including smuggling Iranian weapons.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari claimed the strikes hit energy and port infrastructure which rebels “have been using in ways that effectively contributed to their military action”, ABC News reported.
Rebel-held Hodeida, about 145 kilometres south-west of Sana’a, has been key for food shipments into Yemen during its decade-long civil war. There is also longstanding suspicion that weapons from Iran were shipped through the port.
TEL AVIV TARGET
The strikes happened just after the IDF military says its air force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered the country’s territory.
“Rocket and missile sirens were sounded following the possibility of falling debris from the interception,” the IDF said.
Sirens sounded near Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, and a large explosion was heard overhead.
In Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, fragments from the missile collapsed a school without causing injuries.
