Israel launched large-scale operations against Houthis in Yemen with over 100 fighter jets

Israel has launched a large-scale attack on the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen with over 100 aircraft. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the country’s Air Force had struck Houthi targets. Strikes have targeted key infrastructure, including the power station in Sana’a, leading to significant outages across the city. Netanyahu spoke from the underground command centre at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv where he oversaw the Israeli airstrikes with Defence Minister Israel Katz. The strikes targeted the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, following several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. “We are determined to root out this terrorist arm of Iran's axis of evil. We will persist in this until we complete the job," Netanyahu said. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib along with power stations. It came a day after Netanyahu said that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned.” The Houthis' media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post but gave no immediate details. The operation is allegedly supported by intelligence from the US and UK, as reports suggest Israel initially lacked a comprehensive “target bank.” Local media describe severe disruptions to electricity in Sana’a, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in Tel Aviv. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.