The (Outlaw US and Israeli) Empire strikes back!

Yes, I am talking about the Israeli airstrikes in Yemen today.

From Al Mayadeen.

This afternoon Al Mayadeen reported in their Short News that The Israeli “Defense” Forces (IDF) or, more correctly, the Israeli “Offense” Forces (IOF) carried out airstrikes in Yemen's province of Hodeidah, on the Red Sea coast, targeting the Ras Kathib power station in Hodeidah, igniting the oil storage facilities and leading to a massive fire (as you can see from the photo above) that can be seen kilometres away - see also this article on Al Mayadeen. We are talking about strikes on civil infrastructure, not military, as typical of the IDF… excuse me, IOF in Gaza. In fact, according to the same article above, the “Yemeni Ministry of Health reported martyrs and wounded as a result of the aggression, confirming that civilians suffered severe burns due to the fires”.

From Al Mayadeen.

Although US officials are claiming that “Israel acted alone” without any “US military involvement”, as reported in this other article on Al Mayadeen, the first article I have cited above quoted Israeli media saying that, according to official American sources, “25 F-35 fighters attacked multiple targets in Yemen in several attack waves”. F-35 fighter jet are American, produced by Lockheed Martin, and most likely they were equipped with US-made bombs and missiles, as we know already from the airstrikes and bombings in Gaza. So, the statements by US officials are very weak and unable to stand up. Also, both articles cited above reported about the use of an Italian aircraft (most likely a Boeing 767-2EY, according to other sources) for refuelling fighter jets in Yemeni airspace.

From Al Mayadeen.

Al Mayadeen reported also the following statements of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen and of Yemeni Armed Forces:

The Israeli aggression against Yemen will not deter us from our positions in support of Palestine and will not pass without a response.

The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that they will respond to the blatant Israeli aggression and will target vital targets in the Zionist entity.

We are preparing for a long war with the Israeli enemy until the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.

In particular, as reported in the first two Al Mayadeen articles cited above, the head of Yemen's negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdul-Salam, was quoted as saying:

The brutal Israeli aggression will only increase the determination and the steadfastness of the Yemeni people and its brave armed forces in an escalating manner.

A third article by Al Mayadeen reported the following statements by spokesperson General Yahya Saree:

The Yemeni Armed Forces reiterate that occupied Yafa (Tel Aviv) is an unsafe zone and that a response to the Israeli aggression on civilian facilities in the Yemeni coastal province of Hodeidah is undoubtedly coming.

So, let’s prepare for a new long war between Israel and Yemen.

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And soon after this statement from Hezbollah (as reported in Al Maydeen Short News) about the Israeli airstrikes in Yemen:

We believe that the reckless step taken by the Zionist enemy is the beginning of a new and dangerous phase of confrontation of great importance at the level of the entire region.

…and reports of Hezbollah strikes against Israeli Zabadani site with missiles and against artillery and missile positions in Zaoura with a squadron of attack drones, in response to previous Israeli attacks on civilians in Lebanon, Israel carried out “air raids targeting the coastal town of Adloun in Southern Lebanon”, as reported by Al Mayadeen tonight in their Short News.

It looks like Israel really wants to open several new fronts of war, probably hoping in the ongoing assistance of the Outlaw US Empire.

P.S.: Just before publishing (at 23:20 EET) Al Mayadeen is reporting in their Short News quoted Israeli media “reporting interceptors are being launched in Eilat/occupied Umm Al-Rashrash”. Most likely the Houthis are already responding to Israeli airstrikes in Yemen!

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UPDATE (20/07/2024): For a short summary of the effects of the Yemeni blockade in the Red Sea, please refer to this excellent article on Mint Press News and the references/links therein.