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Israel Strikes Yemen Ports, Warns Houthi Leaders: ‘We Will Hurt the Leadership’ | Watch

May 17, 2025, 4:30 pm

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a precision military operation on the Red Sea ports of Yemen, Hodeidah and Salif, aiming to dismantle the Houthi group’s strategic assets. This marks a significant escalation in the growing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched dozens of missiles and drones toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

The IDF identified that the targeted ports played a crucial role in the Houthi group’s arms logistics. “The IDF struck and destroyed terrorist infrastructure facilities of the Houthi terrorist regime at the Hudaydah and Salif Ports in Yemen,” stated an Israeli military statement. “These ports serve for transferring weapons and are yet another manifestation of the Houthis’ systematic and cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure for the furtherance of terrorist activity.

🤬l’armée de l’air israélienne (FDI) a mené une série de frappes aériennes sur les ports de Salif et de Hodeida, dans la province de Hodeida, sur la côte ouest du Yémen contrôlée par les Houthis du mouvement Ansar Allah, a rapporté la chaîne de télévision yéménite Al Masirah. pic.twitter.com/no8tzpyZmv

— Bien mal a qui ne profite jamais, ne l’oubliez pas (@tom548406612159) May 16, 2025

Human Casualties and Local Response

The Houthi health ministry confirmed that the Israeli strikes killed one person and injured nine others, despite warnings urging civilians to evacuate. Residents in Hodeidah described loud explosions and billowing smoke, creating a dire image of the conflict unfolding.

Leadership Under Fire: Netanyahu’s Warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz jointly warned the Houthis. “If the Houthis keep firing missiles at the State of Israel, they will be badly injured, and we will also damage the leaders,” they declared. They further indicated that they could target Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, drawing a comparison with Hamas’ Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah.

Houthi Defiance and Regional Implications

But the Houthis do not back down. Senior leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi dismissed the threats as “illusions” and accused Israel of setting “unattainable objectives” to buy time. As one of Iran’s leading members of its “Axis of Resistance” coalition, along with Hamas and Hezbollah, the Houthis hold dominion over a broad majority of Yemen’s people and land.

Ever since the IDF began its March 18 retaliation in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 34 ballistic missiles and a minimum of 10 drones towards Israel. Although Israeli defenses downed most of them or they fell short of the target, the symbolic violence has further fueled regional instability.

Hamas Fighters Killed in Israeli Ambushes in Gaza

December 31, 2024, 12:14 am

Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) successfully eliminated dozens of Hamas militants in ambushes conducted in the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya on Monday night.

The IDF reported that the targeted squads were seen fleeing with weapons in hand. “Many terrorist squads were eliminated in ambushes by the forces after they were seen fleeing with weapons in their hands,” said an IDF spokesperson.

The ambushes were executed using a combination of gunfire and tank shelling, neutralizing Hamas gunmen who were reportedly regrouping in northern Gaza following recent escalations.

Background

Hamas has been attempting to reorganize its forces in northern Gaza after its attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. These attacks resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages being taken, including Israelis and foreign nationals.

Out of the 97 hostages still held, over 30 have been confirmed dead. Hamas also holds two Israeli civilians captive from 2014 and 2015, along with the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.

The ongoing conflict has intensified efforts by the IDF to dismantle Hamas’s operational capabilities, particularly in northern Gaza.

Israeli Airstrike Kills Top Hezbollah Contact, Raising Tensions Amid Fragile Truce

December 4, 2024, 4:58 pm

Airstrike Targets Senior Hezbollah Official

Israel confirmed the killing of Salman Nemer Jamaa, Hezbollah’s envoy to the Syrian military, in an airstrike on Tuesday (December 3). The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the strike as an intelligence-based operation. While the exact location was not disclosed, “The Jerusalem Post” reported that the attack occurred in Damascus, Syria’s capital.

Tensions Strain Ceasefire with Hezbollah

The airstrike raises questions about the durability of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Though both sides have largely adhered to the truce, sporadic exchanges of fire continue, threatening a potential escalation.

Jamaa’s Role in Hezbollah and Syrian Alliance

According to the IDF, Jamaa was a senior figure within Hezbollah, holding various strategic positions over the years. His roles included Head of Intelligence in the Khiam region and Head of Operations in Hezbollah’s Damascus command center. Most recently, he acted as a key liaison between Hezbollah operatives and the Syrian military, facilitating weapons smuggling from Syria to Hezbollah, particularly during Israel’s “Swords of Iron” operation launched after the October 7 Hamas attack.

Israel’s Warning to Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz cautioned that a breakdown in the ceasefire could lead to a broader conflict, stating that Israel would not differentiate between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state. Although current hostilities focus on Hezbollah, Katz signaled that future actions could target Lebanon as a whole if provocations persist.

Hezbollah’s Strategic Base in Syria

Hezbollah has long supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, providing fighters and strategic assistance during the Syrian Civil War. The group uses Syrian territory for logistical operations, including weapon transfers, solidifying its foothold in the region.

As tensions simmer, the precarious ceasefire faces an uncertain future, with both sides remaining on high alert.

Israel Conducts Ground Raid In Syria Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

November 4, 2024, 3:18 am

In a marked escalation of its military operations, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted a ground raid in Syria, capturing a Syrian citizen with ties to Iranian networks. This operation represents the first instance in the ongoing conflict where Israel has officially acknowledged its troops operating within Syrian territory. While the Israeli military described the seizure as part of a special operation conducted over recent months, specific details regarding the timing of the raid remain undisclosed.

Targeting Iranian Influence

The individual apprehended, identified as Ali Soleiman al-Assi from the southern Syrian region of Saida, was reportedly under military surveillance for several months. His involvement with Iranian networks highlights Israel’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran’s growing influence in the region, particularly concerning Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia backed by Tehran.

Escalation in Lebanon and Gaza

Simultaneously, Israel has ramped up its military campaign against Hezbollah, conducting airstrikes in Lebanon and claiming naval operations, including the apprehension of a senior Hezbollah operative. This intensified campaign aims to neutralize Hezbollah’s capabilities and curb the group’s cross-border attacks into northern Israel, which have resulted in the deaths of 69 Israelis due to projectile strikes over the past year.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue, resulting in tragic civilian casualties. A recent strike in Khan Younis killed at least eight Palestinians, including four children. Additionally, reports of an Israeli drone strike on a polio vaccination clinic in northern Gaza have drawn international condemnation, as health agencies express concern over the impact on child vaccination efforts amid ongoing violence.

Humanitarian Crisis and Health Campaigns

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 100,000 individuals displaced and urgent health campaigns hindered by ongoing military actions. A second dose of the polio vaccine campaign was initiated but faces significant obstacles due to access constraints and the war’s broader impact. The World Health Organization has raised alarms over the resurgence of polio, which was recently reported in the region for the first time in 25 years.

The Broader Conflict

The conflict, which escalated dramatically after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in extensive casualties on both sides. Israeli offensive actions have reportedly claimed over 43,000 Palestinian lives, with a significant portion of those being women and children. As military operations continue to unfold across Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, the situation remains critical, drawing global attention and concern.

Israel Evacuates Lebanon Baalbek As Tensions Rise With Hezbollah Over Rocket Attacks

November 3, 2024, 5:47 pm

Israel issued an evacuation order for the Lebanese city of Baalbek on Sunday, citing plans to target Hezbollah positions in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) activated sirens at regular intervals along the border as numerous projectiles were reported crossing from Lebanon into Israel since the morning.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, communicated via X to residents of Baalbek and Douris, stating, “You are currently located near the facilities and assets associated with Hezbollah, which the IDF will be targeting in the near future.”

In response, approximately 35 rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, with the IDF reporting that most of these projectiles aimed at Western Galilee were intercepted. A few rockets struck open fields, resulting in minimal damage. Additionally, a separate launch of 25 rockets targeted the Golan Heights, all of which also landed in uninhabited areas.

Israeli Forces Recover Bodies Of Six Hostages, Including US Citizen, From Gaza Tunnel

September 1, 2024, 12:01 pm

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have successfully located and recovered the bodies of six hostages, including US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, from a tunnel in Gaza. The grim discovery was made beneath the city of Rafah, where the hostages had been held by Hamas since their abduction on October 7.

The other hostages identified were Eden Yerushalmi (24), Carmel Gat (39), Almog Sarusi (26), Alex Lubnov (32), and Ori Danino (25). The IDF confirmed that these individuals were among the 250 people kidnapped by Hamas during their attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people.

US President Joe Biden confirmed Goldberg-Polin’s death in a statement, saying, “Earlier today, in a tunnel under the city of Rafah, Israeli forces recovered six bodies of hostages held by Hamas. We have now confirmed that one of the hostages… was an American citizen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.”

Goldberg-Polin, 23, was abducted from the Supernova music festival on October 7. He had been hiding in a bomb shelter with others when Hamas gunmen attacked, using grenades to breach the shelter. A video from that day showed him being loaded onto a pick-up truck with part of his left arm missing due to the attack. In a proof-of-life video released by Hamas on April 24, Goldberg-Polin described the captives’ conditions as “living in hell,” and it was evident his left arm had been amputated below the elbow.

His parents, who have been vocal in advocating for the release of hostages, addressed delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month. On Thursday, they joined other relatives of hostages in a rally near the Gaza border, where his mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, called out to him: “Hersh! It’s Mom… I love you, stay strong, survive.”

The discovery of these bodies underscores the ongoing tragedy faced by families of those abducted during the conflict, as efforts to bring home all hostages continue.

Israeli Military Confirms Death Of Last Missing Person From October 7 Attack

August 7, 2024, 1:04 am

The Israeli military has officially confirmed that Bilha Yinon, the last person listed as missing from the October 7 Hamas attack, has been killed.

Confirmation of Death

On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) notified Yinon’s family of her death. “Today, IDF representatives officially informed the family of Bilha Yinon that she is no longer alive,” the military stated.

Search and Forensic Evidence

The military conducted a thorough search for Yinon, which included extensive investigations around her home. Forensic evidence collected from the area confirmed her identity. “As part of this effort, evidence was discovered that, after complex testing, enabled the verification of her identity,” the statement added.

October 7 Attack Overview

On October 7, Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli communities, killing 1,198 people, predominantly civilians, according to AFP and official Israeli figures. The attack also resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals, with 111 still held captive in Gaza and 39 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.

Ongoing Conflict

The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 39,653 people reported killed by the Hamas-run health ministry, though details on civilian versus militant deaths are not specified.

Terrorist fires on Israeli soldiers

February 8, 2024, 4:02 pm

On Thursday morning, an assailant opened fire at Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers stationed at the entrance to the village of Deir Sharaf near Nablus. The perpetrator was “neutralized,” indicating that he was subdued, although there has been no confirmation regarding his medical status at this time.

Initial reports suggest that several Palestinian individuals present at the scene were struck by the assailant’s gunfire. The injured Palestinians are currently receiving medical attention from both Magen David Adom and military medics.

Remarkably, one of the IDF soldiers escaped injury as a bullet became lodged in their helmet, effectively preventing harm.

Israeli forces seize a vital Hamas harbor base

November 16, 2023, 5:51 pm

The Israeli Defense Forces declared on Thursday that they had taken control of a Hamas harbor base located in central Gaza. The IDF said that approximately ten tunnel shafts and four buildings housing related terrorist infrastructure were destroyed in the joint operation of the navy, armor, and engineering forces with air force support. According to the IDF, Hamas trained its naval forces there and also planned and executed naval assaults. Using civilian vessels and Gaza’s naval police boats, Hamas exploited the location for training and attack purposes under the cover of a civilian naval anchorage.

Israeli forces eliminated ten terrorists and cleared all the buildings in the area of the anchorage.
In addition, a monument glorifying the events of the Mavi Marmara raid of 2010 was toppled. Some of the fighters of the Israeli Navy’s 13th flotilla who were involved in capturing the harbor also fought aboard the Mavi Marmara.
In 2010, the Israeli Navy intercepted a six-ship flotilla trying to symbolically break the Gaza blockade. Violent clashes broke out aboard the Mavi Marmara, the flotilla’s largest ship. Ten Turkish Islamists, many of whom were armed, were killed. Turkey severed its ties with Israel over the affair.

Since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, the Israeli Navy has repeatedly thwarted attempts to transport Iranian weaponry into the Strip via sea.

Hamas attack in Israel : Death toll rises to 350

October 8, 2023, 4:53 pm

According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), 350 Israelis have died since Hamas launched its assault on Israel on Saturday. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said during a briefing on Sunday that controlling fence breaches and putting an end to fighting in Israeli communities were top priorities, according to CNN. According to Israeli emergency services, four people were hurt by rockets on Sunday in and around the city of Sderot. CNN reported this. A 20-year-old man who was one of the victims is in critical condition.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting a security evaluation at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv. Senior security officials including IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and others are present. According to a report in The Times of Israel from earlier in the day, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that searches for Hamas terrorists were being conducted in several besieged towns and that over 400 terrorists had been killed inside Gaza with dozens more being held captive.

“As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,” Israel Defense Forces’ top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.

The evacuation of all civilians from border communities in Gaza, the cessation of hostilities there, the management of security barrier breaches, and the continued attack on terrorist targets in the Strip are all stated mission goals of the IDF, in Hagari’s words. Hamas launched a “surprise attack” on Israel on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central regions of the nation in a significant escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas on Sunday, saying that it had started a terrible war and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would use all of its might to undermine its ability.