Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa

Sanaa, Jul 22: Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has claimed responsibility for launching five drone strikes on key Israeli sites, including Ben Gurion Airport, Ramon Airport, the Eilat port, a target in Tel Aviv, and a "vital" site in the Ashdod area.

In a televised address aired on Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the attacks were in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port earlier on Monday, and in continued support of Palestinians in Gaza. “The operation was successful,” Sarea declared, though he provided no evidence to substantiate the claim.

He warned that the Houthis would keep targeting Israel “until the aggression on Gaza ends and the blockade on Palestinians is lifted.”

There has been no immediate response from Israeli authorities regarding the alleged drone attacks, according to China’s Xinhua News Agency.

Earlier in the day, Israeli airstrikes hit the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah port in northwestern Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces stated the strikes targeted military infrastructure, including fuel storage, vessels, and equipment allegedly used for hostile maritime activities. Eyewitnesses reported explosions and heavy smoke billowing from the port area.

While the Houthis have not yet disclosed any casualties, the latest escalation marks a continuation of their military actions against Israel, which began in November 2023 amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The Houthis, who control large swaths of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have positioned themselves as allies of the Palestinian cause in the regional conflict.