Middle East/Africa Houthi-Israel Conflicts : Around Yemen and Beyond

US says it struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen​

From Eyad Kourdi, Hamdi Alkhshali, Niamh Kennedy, Avery Schmitz and Lauren Izso





A still from a social media video geolocated by CNN shows billowing grey smoke in northern Hodeidah, a Houthi-controlled port city in western Yemen, on Friday. The footage was captured from a vantage point along the Red Sea.
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The US military said Friday that it carried out strikes on 15 targets belonging to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The attack, which included strikes targeting the group’s military capabilities, was carried out to “protect freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea following weeks of Houthi attacks on ships bound for Israel, the US said.

The Iran-backed Houthis accused the US and UK of carrying out airstrikes in four cities across Yemen on Friday. Seven of those strikes targeted the Hodeidah Airport and the Katheeb area in Hodeidah, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported.

The British defense ministry said the UK was not involved in strikes on Yemen today, and Israel’s military said it isn’t aware of the strikes.

Footage geolocated by CNN shows billowing grey smoke in northern Hodeidah, a Houthi-controlled port city in western Yemen. The video was captured from a vantage point along the Red Sea.

How the Houthis fit in to the region’s conflicts:

The Houthis, like Hezbollah and Hamas, are among the Iranian proxy groups aligned against Israel.

Clashes with the Iran-backed groups have intensified since Hamas’ October 7 attacks and the ensuing Israeli military offensive in Gaza, with the Houthis saying their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea are made in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel’s escalating war with Hezbollah has only deepened fears of a wider regional war involving Iran and the various militant groups.

Airstrikes launched on several parts of Yemen, Houthi Al Masirah TV says​

Reuters
October 4, 2024

Airstrikes were launched on Friday at several parts of Yemen including its capital Sanaa and Hodeidah airport, Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by the Houthi movement controlling much of Yemen, and residents said.

Strikes also targeted the south of Dhamar city and the southeast of al-Bayda province, the channel added.

Residents said that the attack on al-Bayda province targeted several Houthi military outposts.

Al Masirah TV reported that the strikes had been carried out by the United States and British forces, but a British government source said Britain was not involved.

Houthi have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since last November in solidarity with Palestinians.

The attacks have drawn U.S. and British retaliatory strikes and disrupted global trade as ship owners reroute vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal to sail the longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

Following the airstrikes, a Houthi spokesman called the attack “a desperate attempt”, adding that “Yemen will not be deterred by these attacks and will continue its steadfastness in confronting the enemies”.