WATCH: Israeli Airstrikes Target Yemen’s Houthis Day After Deadly Tel Aviv Drone Attack

A massive blaze erupted in the port city of Hodeidah after fuel tanks were reportedly bombed

Israel strikes Yemen
A fire rages in Hodeidah, Yemen, following reported Israeli airstrikes against fuel tanks and a power station. Houthi Media Center via Getty Images

Israeli jets reportedly struck fuel tanks and a power station in Yemen on Saturday, sparking a massive blaze and wounding at least 80 people following a deadly drone attack against Tel Aviv.

Residents of Hodeidah told Reuters that explosions were heard across the port city during the intensive bombing campaign.

Most of those injured suffered severe burns, according to Al-Masirah TV, which is controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group.

In addition to the wounded, an unconfirmed number of people were killed, the Associated Press said, citing Yemeni health officials.

Israel said it struck "military targets" in Hodeidah, where it said the port "serves as an entryway for Iranian weapons for the Houthi terrorist regime."

Israel said the move, which AP said appeared to be the first on Yemeni soil since the start of the latest Israel-Hamas war, was a response to what it called hundreds of Houthi attacks.

The most recent, on Friday, killed one person in the center of Tel Aviv and wounded 10 others near the U.S. Embassy.

"The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement. "The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required."

Israel said it alerted its allies before Saturday's bombardment, which it said was carried out by F-15 fighters that all returned safely.

A Houthi spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, called the airstrikes "blatant Israeli aggression" intended to "increase the suffering of the people and to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza."

Abdulsalam also said on social media that the attack would "only increase our determination, steadfastness, continuity."

Mohamed Ali al-Houthi of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen vowed to retaliate against Israel, saying on social media, "There will be impactful strikes."

Tags
Israel, Airstrikes, Yemen
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