Israel’s military has announced the execution of additional airstrikes in Yemen, targeting what it claims are Houthi rebel sites. The military’s statement on Friday noted that these airstrikes took place “on the western coast and inland Yemen,” following the Houthis’ launch of three drones aimed at Israel the previous day. Earlier in the week, the U.S. military conducted strikes in Yemen as well.
Reports from Houthi-controlled media indicated that the airstrikes resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to six others at the Ras Isa port. The Houthis stated that this attack occurred amid gatherings in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, where locals displayed support for Palestinians currently enduring conflict in Gaza.
In the context of the ongoing war, negotiations have reportedly been advancing between Israel and Hamas regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The Health Ministry in Gaza disclosed that approximately 46,006 Palestinians have lost their lives, with an additional 109,378 reported injured since the onset of hostilities, which shows no sign of declining. The Ministry specified that women and children constitute over half of the casualties, although it does not clarify how many were fighters versus civilians.
The Israeli military claims to have eliminated more than 17,000 militants but has not substantiated this assertion with evidence. Israel holds Hamas accountable for the civilian toll, emphasizing that militants operate within residential zones. The ongoing military operations have compelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to seek refuge in makeshift camps along the coast, where access to basic necessities is severely limited.
This conflict erupted when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 others. Estimates suggest that about one-third of the 100 hostages still under captivity in Gaza are presumed deceased.
In other developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security officials to deliberate on the ceasefire discussions concerning Gaza. According to an Israeli official, updates were provided on the negotiations, and the officials were directed to persist with talks centered in Qatar—a process complicated by the turbulent backdrop of the past 15 months of warfare, which has seen only one brief ceasefire.
The recent recovery of two hostages’ remains from Gaza further intensified calls on Netanyahu from families and other advocacy groups to expedite a resolution that would secure the release of the remaining hostages.
In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon resulted in at least two fatalities and left two others injured, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military has not confirmed the specifics of this attack, which reportedly targeted a vehicle in Tayr Debba. Amidst a fragile ceasefire, Israel has maintained that it retains the right to retaliate against Hezbollah for any alleged violations of the truce.
Additionally, further Israeli operations have led to the demolition of homes and explosions in multiple southern Lebanese villages, contributing to a pattern of near-daily military actions since the ceasefire commenced in late November.
Overall, Israel’s military has reiterated its commitment to targeting Houthi positions, as recent operations struck sites identified as critical to the Houthis’ military infrastructure. On the ground in Yemen, Houthi media outlets continue to report injuries and casualties stemming from these airstrikes, emphasizing the ongoing conflict’s impact on everyday life for Yemenis amidst their broader regional implications.
