
Israel Launches Strikes on Yemen Following Houthi Attacks
Israeli airstrikes have targeted Yemen's capital following Houthi rebels' launch of their first cluster bomb since 2023, escalating regional tensions.
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Israeli airstrikes have targeted Yemen's capital following Houthi rebels' launch of their first cluster bomb since 2023, escalating regional tensions.

A US military MQ-9 drone was shot down near Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi militants, marking the second such incident in recent months. The Houthis have been carrying out repeated drone and missile strikes in the region, prompting responses from US and British forces. The US officials confirmed the drone's downing and the Houthi claim, while the militants also attacked a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden. Despite Western attacks, the Houthis have vowed to continue targeting ships until attacks on Palestinians in Gaza cease.

The crew of a commercial ship in the Red Sea abandoned the vessel after a Houthi missile attack, marking the first such evacuation since the group began targeting trade in the area. The Iran-backed group claims to be targeting ships with ties to Israel, the US, and UK in response to conflicts in Gaza and western airstrikes. The attacks have led to disruptions in global trade, with ships now navigating longer routes to avoid the area. The European Union has launched a defensive naval operation to protect commercial vessels, while the US has conducted self-defense strikes against the Houthis.

US forces conducted air strikes against Houthi missiles in Yemen, targeting both land attack and anti-ship missiles, in response to the rebels' persistent attacks on shipping. The strikes came a day after US and UK forces launched air raids against the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been targeting Red Sea shipping in support of Palestinians in Gaza. The US military identified the missiles as an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region, leading to the strikes. Anger over Israel's campaign in Gaza has stoked violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, with recent attacks and retaliatory strikes escalating tensions in the region.

A British warship, HMS Diamond, successfully shot down a Houthi drone in the Red Sea, with no injuries or damage reported. The UK Ministry of Defence condemned the "illegal" attack and reiterated its commitment to protecting navigation freedom in the region. This incident follows joint US-UK airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and the recent targeting of a British-linked oil tanker by the Houthis. The Iran-backed group has been targeting ships in the Red Sea, claiming ties to Israel and the West, and has declared support for Hamas during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The US conducted a "self-defense" strike in Yemen, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles aimed at commercial ships in the Southern Red Sea, citing the need to protect commercial vessels from potential attacks.

The United States and Britain conducted large-scale military strikes on eight sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, signaling a sustained campaign against the Iran-backed group. The strikes aimed to disrupt the group's ability to threaten international sea lanes without causing large-scale casualties, reflecting the Biden administration's attempt to avoid escalating the conflict in the region.

The US military conducted a strike in Yemen targeting four Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, following Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes come amid ongoing tensions between the US and the Iran-aligned Houthi group, with the latter claiming their attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The attacks have disrupted global shipping and raised concerns about potential destabilization in the Middle East.

A Yemeni official has stated that the US-led air campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen is insufficient to deter threats to Red Sea navigation, calling for Western support in the form of arms, training, and intelligence sharing for government forces. The official also challenged Houthi claims regarding attacks on Red Sea shipping, asserting that the group is a tool of Iran and negatively impacting Yemeni people. Talks on a peace plan to end the civil war are described as frozen, with the official claiming that the de facto ceasefire is non-existent due to ongoing Houthi drone attacks.

The war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 100 days with no signs of either side backing down, resulting in over 25,000 deaths. The regional fallout from the conflict is worsening, with Iran-backed Hamas's incursion leading to 1,200 deaths and around 24,000 Palestinians dead in Gaza.

Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been launching missile and drone attacks on commercial ships off the coast of Yemen, posing a threat to international shipping. While US Navy ships have successfully defended against these attacks, experts warn that the Houthis' aggression jeopardizes maritime security and international commerce in the region. The rebels have targeted ships due to their connections to Israel and their disapproval of Israel's war against Hamas. The US holds Iran responsible for supplying the weapons used by the Houthis. Efforts are underway to establish an international maritime task force to ensure safe passage for ships in the Red Sea.

Israel has increased its air defenses in the Red Sea area, deploying Navy missile boats, following missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The attacks targeted Israel's southernmost city, Eilat, which has seen an influx of evacuees from areas near the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese border. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed multiple layers of air defenses in the area and warned of a potential response to the attacks. The US military, also present in the region, intercepted Houthi missiles and drones heading for Israel two weeks ago. Israel accuses the Houthis of acting under Iranian orders to divert attention from the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Islamist movement with a powerful paramilitary force, could become a wildcard player in the Hamas-Israel war and potentially spark a wider regional conflict. Emerging from the aftermath of Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Hezbollah has a history of violence and has been involved in various attacks. While officially considered a resistance group by Lebanon, it is designated as a terrorist organization by much of the Western world. Despite economic and political challenges, Hezbollah remains a formidable force and a key partner for Iran. The group's intervention in the current conflict remains uncertain, as it faces the risk of engaging with Israel's superior military capabilities and potentially igniting a third front in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.