The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday carried out airstrikes against terrorist targets belonging to Houthis in Yemen. The strikes were in retaliation to Friday’s deadly drone attack by the Iranian-backed terrorist group on Tel Aviv.
A Houthi-controlled fuel depot in western Yemeni post city of Al Hudaydah appears to be the main target of the airstrike.
Saturday’s operation named “Outstretched-Arm” demonstrates Israel’s ability to hit targets further away from its territory. “A group of eight F-15 aircraft was assisted by two aerial refueling planes to cover the distance, and professionals around the world were impressed by Israel’s ability to attack with fighter jets at ranges commonly used by bombers – which Israel does not have,” the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.
The IDF on Sunday afternoon released footage of the strike.
“The footage shows the planes refueling mid-air, as well as attacking the port,” the Israeli broadcaster Arutz Sheva reported describing the IDF footage (see X post below). “Eight IAF squadrons participated in the operation, which lasted two hours and 50 minutes. Some of the planes fired their missiles while flying over the Red Sea,” the news website added.
The Israeli response comes after Iran-backed Houthi terrorists fired at least 200 drones and missiles as Israel since October 7.
“According to reports, this time, the air force used the newer F-35 aircraft, known as Adir, in the air force – and it led the attack. The 100 F-16I Sufa aircraft operated by the air force are even more advanced than the Ra’am, which arrived here 26 years ago. Likely, the Ra’am and Sufa aircraft were also integrated into the operation, even if only for refueler protection,” the newspaper added.
The Saturday’s airstrike was a landmark military operation carried out without the U.S. military support. “Today, Israel has stepped up its actions in self-defense against these attacks. The Israeli Air Force conducted precise strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen,” IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagar said Saturday night.
The Israel news website YNET described the airstrike as the “the farthest attack from Israeli territory ever carried out by the military, and its insistence on undertaking the operation without US aid.”
“The last aircraft involved in Operation Outstretched Arm against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen safely landed at an Air Force base around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, completing a long and dangerous 3,400-kilometer operational flight,” the new outlet added.
According to YNET, the Israeli Air Force “carried out specialized drills in Greece.”
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed terrorist group continued its attack on Israel. The IDF on Sunday intercepted a surface-to-surface missile fired from Houthi controlled Yemen. “A short while ago, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile that approached Israeli territory from Yemen using the “Arrow 3″ Aerial Defense System,” the Israeli military said in a press release Sunday morning.
“The projectile did not cross into Israeli territory. Rocket and missile sirens were sounded following the possibility of falling shrapnel. The incident has concluded,” the IDF added.
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