# 26 December 2024 Israeli attack on Yemen

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On 26 December 2024, twenty-five Israeli Air Force aircraft struck multiple targets in the areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi Movement, most notably on the capital's Sanaa International Airport. According to Israel, the attacks, which were part of their operation code-named Operation Tzelilei HaKerem (English: Operation Sounds of the Vineyard), were carried out in response to the firing of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward Israel by the Houthi Movement. It took place as part of multiple Israeli airstrikes in Yemen in December amidst the Houthi involvement in the Gaza war.

## Background

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023, the Houthi Movement in Yemen has been engaged in a spillover conflict with Israel. On 20 July 2024, Israel conducted attacks on Hudaydah Port in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, claiming to have targeted Houthi infrastructure. They carried out an aerial bombing of alleged ammunition depots, oil storage facilities, and power stations. Israel struck targets Inside Yemen again in September and earlier in December.

## Strikes

The airstrikes, which took place on 26 December, were carried out by 25 Israeli Air Force warplanes during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. According to the Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya news channel, the airstrikes targeted the Sanaa International Airport, Hudaydah port, and a power station near Sanaa. The operation was aimed at maximizing damage while also maintaining an element of surprise. Key targets included the airport's control tower, which was disabled, and civilian aircraft allegedly used by the Houthi government. Reports indicated casualties and damage to infrastructure, with claims by the Houthi state controlled Al Masirah TV that some targets were civilian.
Israeli officials, who informed the United States of the attacks in advance, stated the strikes were a response to Houthi actions, warning that further actions would follow if they deemed it necessary. A second wave of attacks occurred shortly after the initial strikes. This attack included seven strikes on Sanaa International Airport which took out the airport's control tower and damaged the runway, as well as three strikes each on the port of Hodeidah, Ras Iffa Port and the Haziz and Ras Qantib power stations.
Houthi Movement owned media outlet Al-Masirah reported that at least three people were killed, and fourteen others injured in the attacks, three of them were killed at Sanaa International Airport and another person was killed at Ras Issa Port. Three others were reported missing in Hodeidah. Several fighter aircraft of the Yemeni Air Force-SPC were also amongst the targets; three of these aircraft were reported by Israeli media sources to have been destroyed. Al-Dailami Air Base was also struck by Israeli aircraft. One of the two remaining naval tugs under the command of Yemeni Navy-SPC was also destroyed.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and a United Nations team were about to board a plane at the Sanaa airport at the time of the strikes. A crew member on the plane was injured. The death toll later rose to six, with an additional forty being wounded.
This was the largest strike carried out by Israel in Yemeni territory since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, following three previous operations: the 20 July 2024 attack, the September 2024 strike, and the December 2024 strikes.

## Responses

Sources in Israel's defense establishment stated that the strike marks the start of a larger campaign against the Houthis. The IDF raised the readiness level of its air defense systems and the Air Force, in anticipation of a possible Houthi response. Soon after the second wave of airstrikes on Yemen, the Houthi Movement launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, causing sirens to sound across central Israel, the fate of the missile was unclear as the IDF refused to provide further details.