Netanyahu issues warning to Israel's enemies after striking Yemen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo: Getty Images)
Today, on July 20, the IDF confirmed that it had launched a series of strikes on the port of Al Hudaydah in Yemen. After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to his country's enemies.
In his address to the nation, he said that from the beginning of the war, he had made it clear that Israel would strike anyone “who harms us.”
“This morning I convened the military-political cabinet. I asked them to support my decision to attack Houthi targets in Yemen,” Netanyahu said.
According to him, the port that was attacked is not a civilian port. It was used for military purposes, as a point of entry for deadly weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran. The Houthis have since used the weapons to attack Israel and countries in the region, as well as international shipping lanes.
“I congratulate the IDF and the Air Force for their decisive, precise, and successful actions,” Netanyahu said.
He said that the operation hit targets 1,800 kilometers from the country's borders. This makes it clear to Israel's enemies that there is no place where the “long arm” of the Israeli state cannot reach.
Netanyahu said that the IDF strike was a direct response to a drone attack that killed an Israeli citizen and injured several civilians. It was also a reaction to Houthi aggression against Israel since the beginning of the war.
“Over the past eight months, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones at Israel. All of this was successfully intercepted by Israeli defense systems with the help of our friend the United States, as well as other countries. I want to thank them,” the Israeli prime minister said.
He added that, like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Houthis are an integral part of the Iranian axis of evil. This is an axis that works not only against Israel but also threatens peace in the world.
Netanyahu noted that Israel expects the international community to step up its efforts against Iran and its satellites to curb Iranian aggression and protect international freedom of navigation.
According to him, anyone who wants to see a stable and secure Middle East should oppose the Iranian axis of evil and support Israel's fight against Iran and its proxies in Yemen, Gaza, and Lebanon.
At the end of his address, Netanyahu sent a message to his enemies.
“Make no mistake about us. We will defend ourselves by all means on all fronts. Anyone who harms us will pay a very high price for their aggression,” the Israeli Prime Minister summarized.
According to the Iranian military, the Israeli Air Force's strike on the port of Al Hudaydah in Yemen was intended to prevent the Houthis from importing Iranian weapons and to inflict financial damage on the Iranian-backed group.
Since the port has been repeatedly used to import weapons from Iran, Israel considered it a legitimate military target. It is known that the air strike was aimed at fuel depots and other facilities in the port.
