Dim Amor
Israeli Air Force aircraft struck Sanaa International Airport, Yemen's capital, again this morning (Wednesday) as part of Operation "Golden Jewelry", following another week of launches toward Israel and alerts activated almost daily across the country due to Houthi rebel fire. This marks the second Israeli strike on the Yemeni aviation facility in less than two weeks, as part of ongoing military escalation between Israel and the Houthis.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strike and announced that the Air Force destroyed the last remaining aircraft in Houthi use. "Air Force aircraft have now struck terrorist targets of the Houthi terrorist organization at Sanaa airport and destroyed the last remaining aircraft in Houthi use as part of Operation Golden Jewelry", Katz stated. "This is a clear message and direct continuation of the policy we have established: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay heavy prices".
Katz clarified that Israeli policy includes expanding the attacks: "Yemen's ports will continue to be severely damaged, and Sanaa airport will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the region serving the Houthi terrorist organization and its supporters". The Defense Minister further announced that "the Houthi terrorist organization will be under maritime and air blockade – as we committed and warned. Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the strike, saying: "The Air Force has now struck again at Sanaa airport, controlled by the Houthi terrorist regime in Yemen. We operate according to a simple principle: whoever harms us – we will harm them. Whoever doesn't understand this with force – will understand it with even more force". Netanyahu directed blame toward Iran: "As I have said many times – the Houthis are just the symptom. The main force behind them is Iran, and it is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen".
The IDF spokesperson issued an official statement about the strike: "The IDF struck a short time ago at the central airport in Sanaa and aircraft of the Houthi terrorist organization. The aircraft that were attacked served the Houthi terrorist regime for transporting terrorists who promoted terrorist activities against the State of Israel". According to the spokesperson, "Similar to the Hodeidah and Al-Salif ports that were attacked last week, Sanaa's central airport is routinely operated by the Houthi regime and serves it for terrorist purposes".
The IDF accused the Houthis of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes: "This is another example of the cruel use the Houthi terrorist organization makes of civilian infrastructure for terrorist activities". It was further stated that "the IDF is determined to continue operating and striking forcefully against anyone who poses a threat to the residents of the State of Israel, at any distance required".
The current strike follows Operation "Red Sunsets" executed about a week and a half ago, during which the Air Force struck the Hodeidah and Al-Salif seaports in Yemen, which are under Houthi control. During that strike, 15 aircraft participated, dropping 35 munitions on both ports. According to the IDF, "These ports serve for transferring combat equipment and are another example of the cynical use and exploitation that the Houthi terrorist regime makes of civilian infrastructure for promoting terrorism".
The IDF noted that the port strikes were conducted "against the aggression of the Houthi terrorist regime, and join last week's IDF strikes at Sanaa's central airport as well as previous strikes carried out at these ports, in order to deepen the damage to the Houthis' terrorist capabilities". The Israeli military emphasized that "the strikes were carried out after many preliminary warnings by the IDF to minimize possible harm to the civilian population in the area of these sites, and prevention of any hostile activity from the ports will continue".
According to IDF assessments, "the Houthi terrorist regime has been operating aggressively for the past year and a half, with Iranian direction and funding, in order to harm Israel and its allies, undermine regional order, and disrupt global shipping freedom". Following these accusations, the IDF warned: "In light of the use the Houthi terrorist regime makes of these ports for terrorist purposes, the IDF again warns those staying at the ports to distance themselves and evacuate the area".
Tensions between Israel and the Houthi rebels have intensified in recent weeks, as the Yemeni insurgents have increased the frequency of launches toward Israeli territory. Alert sirens heard almost daily across the country have led to a decisive Israeli response, manifested in repeated and continuous strikes on various target facilities in Yemen. Israel presents these strikes as an expression of its retaliation policy against anyone who harms its territorial sovereignty, while emphasizing that the Houthi effort receives Iranian support and funding.
The IDF strikes in Yemen constitute part of a wide-scale escalation in the region, as Israel operates against what it calls the Iranian-supported "axis of evil". However, the ongoing military activity in Yemen raises questions about the effectiveness of the strikes in stopping Houthi launches, as these continue despite repeated Israeli strikes. Operation "Golden Jewelry" embodies the Israeli approach in responding to Houthi attacks, but the question of whether Israel will succeed in achieving effective long-term deterrence against the Yemeni rebels remains open.
Photo: 27 A
