Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi rebel-held city of Hodeida

Airstrikes targeted Hodeida (Yemen) on Saturday, July 20. The city is under the control of Houthi rebels, who have accused Israel of being behind the bombings. “Israeli enemy raids on oil storage facilities in Hodeida port”have caused deaths and injuries, the Houthi Health Ministry said in a statement published by rebel-run media, without giving a specific toll.

Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army confirmed that its aircraft had struck the area. “Recently, Israeli army warplanes struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the Hodeida port area in Yemen, in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel.” by the rebels in recent months, the army said.

Loud explosions were heard in the port city, according to an AFP correspondent on the ground. The strikes came a day after a drone attack claimed by the Houthis, which left one person dead in Tel Aviv. Claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, which is in the grip of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis have been carrying out attacks since November against merchant ships presented as linked to Israel.