December 2024 Israeli airstrikes in Yemen

December 2024 Israeli airstrikes in Yemen Operation White City
Part of the Red Sea crisis and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
Map of the airstrikes released by the Israel Defense Forces
Type	Airstrikes
Location	Al Hudaydah Governorate and Sanaa, Yemen
Target	Port of as-Salif, Ras Isa oil facility, two power stations, eight tugboats
Date	19 December 2024
Executed by	Israel Defense Forces Israeli Air Force
Casualties	9 civilians killed, 3 wounded

On the morning of 19 December 2024, Israel carried out several airstrikes in western Yemen in an operation dubbed Operation White City (Hebrew: מבצע העיר הלבנה), killing at least nine civilians and wounding three others. The Israel Defense Forces struck a port and an oil facility near the capital Sanaa, used by the Houthis in their military operations, which it said was retaliation for Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel. Houthi sources said that Israeli strikes targeted the Heyzaz and Dhahban power stations near Sanaa, as well as the Hudaydah Port and Ras Isa oil facility.

Background

Main article: Red Sea crisis

Following the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023 that killed 1,200 people, Israel responded with an offensive on the Gaza Strip that killed over 45,000 Palestinians. In solidarity with the Palestinians, the Houthis launched a campaign of attacks against merchant ships that they claimed were linked to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, however many ships targeted held no links to the three countries. Two ships were sunk and four sailors were killed throughout the Houthi campaign. The Galaxy Leader was also hijacked.

The Houthis have also launched over 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel, the majority of which were intercepted before reaching their targets. The strikes incurred Israeli airstrikes on Yemen in July and September.

The airstrikes had been planned for weeks in response to previous attacks on Israel and began within an hour from the time of arrival of a Houthi-fired ballistic missile into Israeli airspace. The missile caused the activation of the Israeli danger alarm system, and therefore disrupted the sleep of millions of Israelis, having to evacuate to a safe place. The missile was intercepted by the Arrow defense system. The missile's warhead, which didn't explode during the interception, crashed into a school building in Ramat Gan. Despite the heavy destruction to the building, no human injuries were reported. Israeli planes were already in the air en route to Yemen at the time of the attack.

Airstrikes

An Israeli fighter jet that participated in the airstrikes.

The strikes came in two waves and saw dozens of munitions dropped on five targets. Fourteen fighter jets alongside refuelers and surveillance aircraft participated in the operation. The aircraft departed at around 1:00 a.m. and embarked on a 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)-flight to Yemen. The strikes were conducted overnight due to operational concerns and attempts to improve intelligence on the targets. The first wave began at 3:15 a.m. and targeted Yemen's Red Sea coast, striking the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Salif. Four air raids were reported on Al Hudaydah, including two that hit the Ras Isa oil terminal. Seven people were killed in as-Salif, two employees of the oil terminal were killed and another was injured in Ras Isa, and two people were injured in Hudaydah Port. The strikes also destroyed eight tugboats. The second wave, which occurred at 4:30 a.m., targeted the Dhahban and Heyzaz power plants—respectively located north and south of Sanaa. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the strikes targeted port and energy infrastructure used for military activity by the Houthis.

Reactions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that by striking the Houthis, Israel was protecting not just itself but the entire world from the Houthi attacks on international shipping and trade routes. President Isaac Herzog thanked his troops, saying that they dealt a heavy blow on the Houthis, who he said intended "to harm [Israel] and the entire region". Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Houthi leaders would also be targeted.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that the strikes were a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

See also

• 20 July 2024 Israeli attack on Yemen
• 29 September 2024 Israeli attacks on Yemen
• 2024 missile strikes in Yemen – missile strikes by the United States and the United Kingdom on Houthi controlled parts of Yemen
• Operation Wooden Leg – the most distant publicly known airstrike undertaken by the Israel Defense Forces
• Operation Opera – another long-distance airstrike undertaken by the IDF