JERUSALEM
\nIsrael struck Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, including a power station and ports, in response to missile and drone launches, and warned it would hunt down the group\u2019s leaders.
\nIsrael\u2019s latest strikes came after the military intercepted two drones believed to have been launched from Yemen the previous day.
\nIsrael\u2019s military said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for Houthi missile and drone launches.
\nThe statement said the targets included \u201cmilitary infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station, which serves as a central source of energy\u201d for the Houthis.
\nIt said it also struck military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeida and Ras Issa.
\nIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement after the strikes, said the Houthis were being punished for their repeated attacks on his country.
\n\u201cAs we promised, the Houthis are paying, and they will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us,\u201d he said, vowing not to tolerate attacks against Israel.
\n\u2018No immunity for anyone\u2019
\nIsraeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tel Aviv would \u201chunt down\u201d the Houthi leaders. \u201cThe Hodeida port is paralysed, and the Ras Issa port is on fire \u2026 there will be no immunity for anyone,\u201d he said in a video statement.
\nYemen\u2019s Al Masirah television station said the power station was struck eight times, wounding one worker and damaging nearby houses.
\nYemenis taking part in a weekly protest in Sanaa in support of Palestinians heard the strikes, the channel reported.
\nIt said the port of Hodeida, vital for Yemen\u2019s imports, was struck six times, while the Ras Issa port was struck by \u201ca series of raids\u201d.
\nA Hamas spokesperson condemned \u201cin the strongest terms\u201d Israel\u2019s latest strikes on Yemen.
\nThe Iran-backed Yemeni fighters have also targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, prompting retaliatory strikes by the United States and, on occasion, Britain.
\nBefore Friday\u2019s raids, Israel had struck Houthi targets in Yemen several times, including in the capital.
\nSince the Gaza crisis unfolded in Oct 2023, the Houthis have launched about 40 surface-to-surface missiles toward Israel.
\nThe Israeli military has also reported the launch of about 320 drones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JERUSALEM Israel struck Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, including a power station and ports, in response to missile and drone launches, and warned it would hunt down the group\u2019s leaders. Israel\u2019s latest strikes came after the military intercepted two drones believed to have been launched from Yemen the previous day. Israel\u2019s military said the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":454887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-454860","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n