Israel-Houthi conflict/ Yemen airstrikes/ Gaza journalists killed/ Red Sea tensions/ Tulkarem violence/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including Sanaa and key ports, in response to recent Houthi missile attacks and Red Sea shipping disruptions. Meanwhile, ongoing violence in Gaza claimed the lives of five journalists, whom Israel identified as militants. The war’s toll continues to rise, with over 45,000 Palestinians killed and significant displacement.
Israeli Strikes on Houthi Targets: Quick Looks
- New Strikes:
- Israeli forces hit Sanaa, Hodeida, and nearby ports, including Al-Salif and Ras Qantib.
- Targets included infrastructure linked to Houthi operations.
- Houthi Activities:
- Recent missile strikes, including one injuring 16 people in Tel Aviv.
- Disruptions to Red Sea shipping cited as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
- Wider Impact:
- Gaza: Five journalists killed outside Al-Awda Hospital; Israel claims they were militants.
- West Bank: Mourning for eight Palestinians killed near Tulkarem earlier this week.
New Israeli Airstrikes Hit Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Ports and Capital
Deep Look
Escalation with Houthis
Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted Houthi-held areas in Yemen, following days of missile launches that set off sirens across Israel. Key locations hit include Sanaa’s international airport and the strategic ports of Hodeida, Al-Salif, and Ras Qantib.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned, “The Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah have learned.”
Houthi leaders have framed their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping routes as acts of solidarity with Palestinians. The United Nations, however, noted that the targeted ports serve as critical entryways for humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Journalists Killed in Gaza
Five journalists were killed outside Gaza’s Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military identified them as combat propagandists linked to Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas. Israel’s strike destroyed a press-marked van, and sobbing mourners attended the victims’ funeral.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that more than 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the conflict began. Foreign reporters remain barred from entering Gaza except on Israeli military embeds.
The Toll of War
The war, sparked by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel, has devastated Gaza. Israeli forces report over 17,000 militant deaths, but Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 45,000 Palestinians, including many civilians, have been killed. Around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with many living in overcrowded, winter-exposed camps.
West Bank Violence
Tensions persist in the West Bank, where eight Palestinians were killed near Tulkarem earlier this week. Israeli forces claim militants attacked soldiers but acknowledged civilian casualties during the raid.
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