RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: On Sunday, Saudi Arabia firmly denied any involvement in the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defence, clarified that Saudi Arabia had no connection to the strikes and emphasized that the Kingdom would not permit any misuse of its airspace for offensive operations.
The airstrikes, which took place on Saturday, targeted Houthi-controlled areas in response to a drone attack by the Houthi militia on a Tel Aviv apartment building early Friday morning. The drone strike resulted in one civilian casualty in Israel. In retaliation, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the strikes were a message to the Houthis, signaling that their actions would not go unanswered.
The Houthis, who control a significant portion of Yemen and have been engaging in attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab-Al-Mandab Strait, were reportedly targeting these vessels in support of Palestinians amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.
According to Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, the Israeli strikes hit a power plant and gasoline storage facility, resulting in three deaths and 87 injuries.
Despite the Israeli military response, Houthi officials have vowed to persist in their attacks on Israeli interests and any ships engaged in commerce with Israel.
Mohammed Abdul Sallam, a Houthi chief negotiator, declared that the aggression would only strengthen the Yemeni people’s resolve in their support for Gaza.
Similarly, Abdul Sallam Jahaf of the Houthi Shura Council promised a more severe retaliation against what he termed a “Zionist-American” campaign.
