Jerusalem [Israel], December 28: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it intercepted a missile apparently launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels early on Monday, after air raid sirens sounded across central Israel. The Times of Israel reported that 18 people suffered minor injuries as they ran to a shelter, citing emergency services in Israel. Meanwhile, Ben Gurion airport southeast of Tel Aviv was closed to incoming flights for 30 minutes. Yemen's Houthi rebels have not commented on the attack.
Earlier on December 26, Israel carried out airstrikes on several Houthi targets in Yemen , including Sanaa International Airport. In addition to the airport, the IDF also attacked military infrastructure at the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib on Yemen's west coast. The Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power plants in Yemen were also among the airstrikes. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was about to board a plane at Sanaa International Airport when the attack occurred, injuring a crew member. He said he was standing just meters away from the area affected by the attack. According to AFP, Mr. Tedros went to Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff and the humanitarian situation there.
The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency said three people were killed in the attack on the airport and three were killed in Hodeidah, with 40 injured. The Houthis said they were ready to respond quickly to the attack and respond "with escalation". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Channel 14 that "we have only just begun with them", adding that the strikes would continue until the "job is done". "We are determined to cut this terrorist branch off the Iranian axis of evil", he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the Israeli airstrike as "particularly alarming", after "a year of escalating Houthi activity". An anonymous US official said Washington supported Tel Aviv's right to self-defense, but that Israeli operations must be committed to protecting civilians.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper