Port of Hodeidah, Yemen July 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
Missile Interception and Immediate Aftermath
On Sunday, Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, with the Yemeni Houthi movement claiming responsibility for firing several missiles at the Israeli city of Eilat. This development follows Israel’s first public strike against the Iran-aligned group a day earlier. The Houthis have retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel, exacerbating regional instability as the conflict in Gaza continues after nine months.
Houthi Attacks and Israeli Response
According to Israeli sources, the Houthis have conducted 200 attacks since the onset of the Gaza conflict, most of which have been intercepted and were non-lethal. However, a rare Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv on Friday resulted in one fatality and prompted Israel to carry out airstrikes against the group on Saturday. The airstrikes, targeting areas near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, resulted in six deaths and over 80 injuries, with local medics reporting all casualties as civilians. The Houthis responded on Sunday by vowing to continue their attacks on Israel, with spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam declaring that “no red lines” would limit their targets.
Missile Defense and Civilian Impact
Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen on Sunday before it reached Israeli territory. The interception followed air raid sirens in Eilat, causing residents to seek shelter. The attack marks an escalation in the violence between Israel and the Houthis, beginning with the drone strike in Tel Aviv that resulted in one death and four injuries. Yemeni medical sources reported extensive casualties from the Israeli air raid on Hodeidah, which targeted an oil facility and a power station, as shown in images of the aftermath featuring heavy smoke and fire.
Regional and Global Implications
The ongoing exchanges are part of a broader spillover from the Gaza war, involving regional and international powers. Iran-aligned groups, including the Houthis, have launched rockets and missiles at Israel, purportedly in support of Palestinians and Hamas, the Islamist militant group governing Gaza. The United States and its allies provide support and weapons to Israel. The conflict, which began on October 7 following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israeli authorities report about 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, Israel has bombed and invaded Gaza, leading to nearly 39,000 deaths according to health officials in the enclave.
Houthi Involvement and Broader Conflict
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen and other major population centers, have repeatedly claimed responsibility for targeting Eilat and other attacks on Israel, citing retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza. They have also disrupted Red Sea shipping routes over recent months. Allies of Hamas include Iran-backed groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iraqi paramilitaries. The Houthi movement, primarily composed of a minority Shi’ite Muslim group in Yemen, has maintained control over the country’s capital, Sanaa, for years.
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