Israel bombs power station, two ports in Houthi-controlled Yemen

Israeli warplanes bombed a power station and two ports in Houthi-controlled Yemen on Friday in further retaliation for Houthi drone and missile strikes against Israel, and pro-Houthi media said at least three people were injured.

The Houthi fighters “are paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against us”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, Reuters reports.

Thirteen air strikes targeted the Hezyaz central power station in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, said Al Masirah TV, the main news outlet run by the Houthis. “Three citizens were injured, including a worker at the Hezyaz … station in Sanhan District, and a number of homes were damaged,” it said.

Earlier, British security firm, Ambrey, said air strikes on the Red Sea port of Ras Issa targeted oil storage facilities in the vicinity of shipping berths, though no merchant vessels were reported to have been damaged.

Al Masirah reported a series of air strikes on Ras Issa and six other air strikes on the major port of Hudaydah, while Harf Sufyan District in Amran province also came under air attack.

An Israeli military statement confirmed the targets, saying the Hezyaz power station served as a “central source of energy for the Houthi terrorist regime in its military activities”. It added that the targets struck were examples of the “Houthis’ exploitation of civilian infrastructure”.

Within the past 48 hours, the Houthis fired three drones at Israel’s commercial hub, Tel Aviv, and more drones and missiles at the American aircraft carrier, “USS Harry S. Truman” in the Red Sea, Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said.

The Houthis have targeted Israel, hundreds of kilometres (miles) to the north as well as international shipping in waters near Yemen since November 2023 in support of Palestinian fighters at war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has responded with air strikes in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, as have British and US forces in the region.

Netanyahu said last month Israel was only at the beginning of its campaign against the Houthis.

READ: Israel, US, UK launch 1st joint attack on Houthi targets in Yemen