The IAF strike followed an early Friday UAV attack on Tel Aviv, which killed one person and injured 10 others.
"Today, Israel has stepped up its actions in self-defense against these attacks," he said. "Israeli Air Force conducted precise strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen. The military target was the Al Hudaydah Port, used by the Houthis as the main supply route for the transfer of Iranian weapons from Iran to Yemen, like the UAV itself that was used in the attack on Friday morning. In the area of the port, the Israeli Air Force struck dual-use infrastructure used for terrorist activities, including energy infrastructure. Israel's necessary and proportionate strikes were carried out in order to stop the Houthi's terror attacks."
He emphasized that "The Al Hudaydah Port serves as an entryway of Iranian weapons for the Houthi terrorist regime and as a significant economic source for them." The strike, conducted over 1,800 kilometers away from Israel, was one of the furthest-away strikes the IAF ever conducted.
Hagari confirmed that all planes which took part in the attack on Yemen returned safely to Israel, stressing, "We increased the defense systems, and we are prepared on all fronts. At the same time, there are no changes in the Home Front Command's instructions. If there are - we will update."
He noted that the Houthi threat "goes far beyond Israel. The Houthis target other countries in the Middle East, the United States of America, and the world with their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, and not just the Red Sea. Who is behind the Houthis? One country, Iran. The Iranian regime funds, arms, and directs the Houthi's terror activity."
"The international maritime coalition, led by CENTCOM, as well as the IDF, have stopped many of those Houthi attacks in recent months. We see a common interest for all countries attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorism to stand together against this threat."
However, Hagari stressed, "Today, this was an IDF-only action. I want to repeat it: today, this was an IDF-only action. We will continue to defend the people of Israel from all threats near and far."
Responding to the criticism of the fact that Israel retaliates to her enemies' attacks only after they fire on Tel Aviv, he said, "This is the first time that an Iranian UAV has infiltrated the country's territory and killed an Israeli citizen. This is extremely serious. It does not matter where it happened in Israel. This response is cumulative, responding to everything which has happened."Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
