The Israeli Air Force launched an attack on the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday morning.
The military operation reportedly was a retaliatory strike for two hypersonic ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport over the weekend. The IDF announced the strike in a post on X. It was the second such strike on the airport by Israel in a month and was designed to eliminate aircraft the Houthis were using to “transfer terrorists.”
“The IDF struck at the main airport in Sana’a a short while ago,” read the post. “Aircraft used by the Houthi terrorist organization for the transfer of terrorists, who planned terrorist attacks against Israel, were also struck.”
IDF claimed it was a strategic attack that decimated an area that was an integral part of the Houthis’ operations.
“The Houthi terrorist regime continuously operates the main airport of Sana’a for terror purposes,” noted the IDF post. “The IDF is determined to continue to operate against any threat to Israeli civilians, wherever necessary.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the strikes in a statement on Wednesday.
“Anyone who doesn’t understand this through force – will understand it through even greater force,” Netanyahu said.
Previously, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed Sunday’s attack to multiple media outlets. He said the strikes over the weekend were successful and forced “millions of illegal settlers into shelters” and halted air traffic at the airport. Saree blasted Israel for its bombardment and the oppression of Palestinians.
“This requires that all freedom-loving people of the Yemeni nation as well as peoples of the world take action to uphold justice, defend humanity, and fulfill their duties toward the oppressed Palestinian people,” said Saree.
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Saree also warned that Houthi forces would soon escalate their attacks against Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel Katz, the minister of defense for Israel, also confirmed Wednesday’s strike and claimed that the Israeli air force had destroyed the last aircraft the Houthis were using at the airport in the attack. Katz added that Israel was in the process of developing an aerial and naval blockade against the Houthis to weaken their military abilities.
“This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we established: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Katz said.
“The ports in Yemen will continue to be struck heavily, and the airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the area used by the Houthi terror organization and its supporters,” Katz asserted.
“The Houthi terror organization will be under naval and aerial blockade, as we promised and warned. Anyone who harms us will be harmed sevenfold,” Katz declared.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
