Yemen’s Houthis said on Sunday they attacked “important targets” in Israel, a day after the Israeli military confirmed attacks on the militia-controlled port city of Hodeidah, fueling the regional escalation.
The attack on Hodeidah in western Yemen followed a Houthi attack in Tel Aviv on Friday in what the Iran-allied militia said was retaliation for Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip.
Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said on Sunday that the group fired ballistic missiles at “important targets” in Eilat, southern Israel.
“The operation successfully achieved its objectives,” he added in a televised statement, without giving further details.
The Israeli army said it had “successfully” intercepted a surface-to-surface missile approaching Israel from Yemen.
“Rocket and missile sirens sounded after the possibility of shrapnel falling. The incident has concluded,” the Israeli army added.
Militia chief Abdel-Malek al-Houthi sounded defiant on Sunday: “Israeli aggression on our country will contribute to the escalation of our operations against it and the development of our capabilities,” he said in a televised speech.
“We are very happy with the direct battle between us and the Israeli enemy,” he added.
“In this battle, we are stronger than before. Capabilities are constantly developed to face challenges at any level.”
Al-Houthi said the drone that targeted Tel Aviv on Friday was developed and launched by Yemenis, implicitly denying allegations that it was supplied to his group by Iran.
He added that attacking Tel Aviv marked a new phase of escalation.
“The Israeli enemy will not have deterrence and will not restore it towards our [pro-Palestinian] support operations. The results will be more escalation and targeting,” he said.
The Houthis said at least six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Hodeidah.
The militia’s mouthpiece, al-Masirah television station, citing the Houthi-controlled health ministry, reported that the Israeli attack targeted civilian facilities in Hodeidah, leaving six people dead, three others missing and 83 injured. It had initially reported that three were killed.
Houthi militants have also attacked ships in the Red Sea and have said they want to force an end to Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, which followed the unprecedented massacre carried out by the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas in Israel in October.
