JERUSALEM/SANAA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it attacked Houthi military targets in Hodeidah port in northwestern Yemen on Monday.
According to the statement, the IDF struck and dismantled military infrastructure, including engineering vehicles used to re-establish the port's infrastructure, fuel containers, vessels used for military activities and force against Israel, and against vessels in the maritime zone adjacent to the port, and additional Houthi infrastructure.
"The targets struck demonstrate how the Houthi terrorist regime utilizes civilian infrastructure for military and terrorist purposes," the statement read, alleging that the port has been used to transfer weapons from the Iranian government.
In a separate statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF "vigorously enforces any attempt to restore terrorist infrastructures that were attacked in the past," adding that "the Houthis will pay a heavy price for the missiles they fired at Israel."
Earlier in the day, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting facilities in the Hodeidah port.
The strikes rocked the city, with fire and smoke that could be seen several miles from the port, local residents told Xinhua over the phone.
Ambulances were seen rushing to the port. The Houthi authorities have yet to report casualties.
According to workers at the port and eyewitnesses, the strikes targeted Houthi-controlled boats, naval vessels, fuel containers, and engineering vehicles working to rebuild infrastructure in the port.
The Houthi TV said the fresh Israeli airstrikes targeted the same previous targets, including the infrastructure of the port that previous Israeli airstrikes had struck.
Citing unnamed Houthi officials, the Houthi TV said the Israeli airstrikes "would not stop the group from targeting Israeli cities, Ben Gurion Airport, ports, and Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea." ■
