Netanyahu: Israel strikes against Houthis on behalf of global security

Israel has launched intense airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the operations are aimed at protecting not only Israel but the entire international community.

In a statement, Netanyahu stressed that the Iran-backed rebel group’s actions — which include attacks on international shipping and trade routes — threaten global stability, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Israeli fighter jets targeted Houthi positions at the Hodeida port and, for the first time, in Yemen's capital, Sana’a, early on December 19. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that strategic targets, including ports and energy infrastructure, were hit in "precise strikes." Houthi forces have been using these facilities for missile and drone launches, including attacks on Israeli commercial shipping and the broader Red Sea region.

The airstrikes follow months of increasing Houthi aggression, including missile and drone attacks on Israel. On December 19, a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis was partially intercepted by Israel’s Arrow defense system, with the warhead crashing into an empty school building in Ramat Gan, causing significant damage but no casualties.

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, stating that "the long arm of Israel will reach" those who threaten the country. He further emphasized Israel’s commitment to defending its security and international trade routes.

The Houthis, among the last remaining Iranian proxies, have launched over 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year. Their attacks, part of a broader strategy by Iran-aligned groups, have targeted not only Israel but also global shipping in the Red Sea. The Israeli military believes that its recent strikes have incapacitated key Houthi-controlled ports and logistics infrastructure.

This escalation comes amid continued international efforts, including US strikes, to counter the Houthi threat.

By Aghakazim Guliyev