U.S. strikes Houthi targets in Yemen
The rebels’ Al-Masirah TV channel reported that an ‘aggression’ had targeted the Attan district of Sanaa
Daily TribuneThe rebels’ Al-Masirah TV channel reported that an ‘aggression’ had targeted the Attan district of Sanaa
Emergency services personnel inspect the rubble of a destroyed school building in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, after Yemeni rebels fired a missile
Jack GUEZ / AFP
SANAA (AFP) — The United States on Saturday said it struck targets in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, hours after a Houthi rebel missile wounded people in Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv.
The missile, which wounded 16 people, was the second such attack in two days.
Among the targets of US forces was a rebel missile storage center and a “command-and-control facility,” the US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.
American forces also shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, it said, shortly after the rebels’ Al-Masirah TV channel reported that an “aggression” had targeted the Attan district of Sanaa, blaming Western forces.
American and British forces have repeatedly struck rebel targets in Yemen this year in response to Houthi attacks on shipping in Red Sea-area waters vital to global trade.
Israel has also previously struck back, including against ports and energy facilities, after rebel attacks against its territory.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility for the Saturday strike on Israel, saying they directed a ballistic missile at “a military target of the Israeli enemy.”
The Israeli military said it failed to intercept the missile, forcing many residents to leave their homes in the early hours.
Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted.
“One projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made,” after alert sirens sounded, the Israeli military said on its Telegram channel.
In a later statement, the military said Israeli civilians had been “deliberately targeted.”
It stressed the country’s “aerial defense is not hermetic” so Israelis should follow security instructions.
“I was at home and heard a loud explosion. I immediately went to the scene and saw significant blast damage to nearby buildings,” medic Yosef Kourdi was quoted as saying in a statement released by Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA).
“MDA teams provided medical care to 16 individuals who were mildly injured by glass shards from shattered windows in nearby buildings due to the impact of the strike,” the statement said.
