19 Dec 2024

Israeli airstrikes kill nine in Yemen, Houthi TV says

8:36 pm on 19 December 2024
A damaged school building is pictured in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on December 19, 2024, after the campus was struck by debris from the reported interception of a projectile from Yemen. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)

A damaged school building in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on 19 December after the campus was struck by debris from the reported interception of a projectile from Yemen. Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP

Israel's "long hand" will reach the leaders of Yemen's Houthi movement, Defence Minister Israel Katz has vowed, after unleashing airstrikes on several areas of the Arab country overnight.

The Israeli airstrikes killed nine people, said Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of the country. Seven of those were in the port of Salif and two in the Ras Issa oil facility, both located in the western province of Hodeidah.

The strikes also targeted two central power stations south and north of the capital, Sanaa, it added.

"I warn the leaders of the Houthi terrorist organisation: Israel's long hand will reach you as well," Katz said in a post on X.

"Whoever raises a hand against the state of Israel, his hand will be cut off; whoever harms, will be harmed sevenfold."

In a statement, Israel's military said it "conducted precise strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen, including ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa", adding that the targets struck were used by Houthi forces for military purposes.

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since last November, in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war with Hamas

- Reuters

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