Israel Strikes Multiple Fronts, Including Long-Distance Attack on Yemen
Israel launched multiple military strikes on Sunday, targeting enemies in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen, escalating tensions across the Middle East. The Israeli military confirmed an airstrike on Yemen’s Hodeidah province, over 1,000 miles away, hitting power plants and shipping infrastructure. This marked a rare long-distance attack as Israel confronts Iranian-backed proxies.
In Lebanon, Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah, while the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed Israel killed three of its members in Beirut’s Cola neighborhood. If confirmed, this would be Israel’s first attack on Beirut since the 2006 war with Hezbollah.
At the same time, Israel continued its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli troop movements along the northern border suggested preparations for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon.
Israel’s military declared its determination to strike any threat to its citizens, regardless of distance. The strikes are part of a broader strategy by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assert Israel’s strength in the region. He stated that Israel’s enemies and allies now recognize its power and resolve.
Recent Israeli operations also targeted Hezbollah militants, including a bombing on Friday that reportedly killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. His death marks a significant blow to Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel. In retaliation, Iran-backed militias launched missiles at Israel. Houthi militants in Yemen fired a ballistic missile, but Israel intercepted it before it entered Israeli airspace.
These operations, while extensive, were less intense compared to last week when Israel bombed a Beirut neighborhood, killing Nasrallah and leveling buildings. Netanyahu’s government, under strain due to the prolonged conflict in Gaza, appeared to gain political ground following the strikes. Gideon Saar, a former justice minister and past critic, praised the Israeli military’s resolve and joined Netanyahu’s coalition, strengthening the Prime Minister’s position at home.