UPDATE - Israel strikes power plants, port, oil facility in Yemen

UPDATES WITH ISRAELI STATEMENTS, MORE DETAILS; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - Israel launched airstrikes on power plants, a port, and an oil facility in Yemen, marking an escalation in its conflict with Houthi fighters, reports said Thursday.

The Israeli military said the attacks targeted “military targets” linked to Houthi fighters after intercepting a missile launched towards Israel, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the strikes hit energy and port infrastructure, which he alleged the rebels “have been using in ways that effectively contributed to their military action” against Israel.

“Israel will not hesitate to act in order to defend itself and its citizens from the Houthi attacks,” Hagari also said.

He added that the Houthi rocket strike on central Israel forced millions to flee to shelters.

The Houthi-run Saba News Agency said Israeli warplanes carried out six raids on two power plants in southern and northern Sanaa and six others on Al-Hudaydah, killing several people.

The raids on Al-Hudaydah targeted the city's port and the Ras Isa oil facility.

Yemeni health authorities have yet to comment on the death toll from the Israeli attacks.

Houthi-aligned TV channel Al-Masirah reported earlier that the strikes hit two power plants in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and caused damage to an oil facility and the port of Al-Hudaydah.

“The enemy launched four aggressive raids targeting the port … and two raids targeting the oil facility,” Al Jazeera quoted the channel as saying.

The strikes came amid heightened tensions in the region as Yemen’s ongoing war further involves external powers. No immediate casualties were reported following the attacks.

Israeli authorities have yet to provide details on the specific targets of the operation or the potential impact on civilians in the affected areas.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report