Dramatic new vid shows moment Israeli bombs strike Iran-backed Houthi port in Yemen sparking massive mushroom explosions
DRAMATIC new footage shows the moment Israeli bombs struck Yemen's Iran-backed port sparking a massive explosion and sending a mushroom cloud into the sky.
Israel launched an attack on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah in retaliation after the Houthis long-range drone hit in Tel Aviv.
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The IDF wrote on X, "IDF fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah Port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months."
Foreign minister Israel Katz said the attacks have delivered a "severe blow" to the terror organisation.
IDF says the port strikes were to cause "severe financial damage" and prevent the Houthis from sourcing weapons from Iran.
Netanyahu said that Hodeidah was "not an innocent port" adding: "It was used for military purposes, it was used as an entry point for deadly weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran."
Iran-backed Houthis have vowed a "large and significant" response to the attack.
The rebel group claimed to have launched ballistic and cruise missiles at Eilat, southern Israel but added that this did not amount to "significant" retaliation.
Their warped slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
The rebel group has been launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships - including warships - they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.
However, in reality there have been frequent attacks on commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel - forcing global sea traffic to halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices soaring.
The sea assaults have threatened to ignite a full-blown war in the Middle East as intense ripples from Israel's war in Gaza are felt across the region - with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased 50 per cent between November and December as the rebel group's chiefs pledged their assaults would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen - Iran's terror proxy appears undeterred.
Chilling footage shows the moment the strike hits as a huge fireball erupts over the city's skyline.
A 37-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were reportedly hit by glass shrapnel - leaving them needing medical treatment.
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A man was found dead in an apartment near to the explosion with police investigating whether it was related to the blast.
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the UAV was apparently launched from Yemen.