IDF confirms: Israel attacked Houthi targets in Yemen

Israeli warplanes struck deep inside Yemen early Thursday, targeting the Iran-backed Houthi movement's military infrastructure in what military analysts say marks a substantial widening of Israel's operational theater.

The precision strikes, authorized by Israel's top military and political echelon, hit multiple strategic targets along Yemen's Red Sea coast and inland territories. Among them: military installations at Sanaa International Airport, power stations at Al-Aziz and Ras Kantib, and port facilities in Hodeidah, Al-Salif, and Ras Kantib—all key nodes in what Israeli intelligence describes as Iran's weapons pipeline to its regional proxies.

The strikes represent Israel's most forceful response yet to the Houthis' increasing aggression. The Yemen-based group has launched numerous drones and ballistic missiles toward Israeli territory in recent months, positioning itself as a key player in Iran's regional alliance system.

For Israel, the calculus behind striking targets over a thousand miles from its borders reflects a growing recognition that regional security threats can no longer be managed through traditional containment strategies. "Distance is no longer a sanctuary," the IDF spokesperson stated, signaling Israel's willingness to engage threats wherever they emerge.

While the targeted facilities serve civilian purposes, Israeli intelligence reports indicate their systematic exploitation for military activities—a pattern that military planners say makes them legitimate military targets under international law.