Israeli Jets Strike Back at Houthis in Yemen After Deadly Tel Aviv Drone Attack as All Signs Indicate Deif is Dead
Israeli fighter jets for the first time attacked Yemen Saturday, July 20, retaliating on the Houthi stronghold days after the Iran-backed group attacked the former US Embassy in Tel Aviv, in a drone strike that killed one person.
Saturday’s military operation targeted the western Yemen city of al-Hudaydah, Israeli media reported. The bombs destroyed fuel repositories and oil refineries. Earlier reports suggested that the US and UK had also sent jets as part of the mission, but the Israeli news outlet reported that Israeli jets alone carried out the strikes.
The IDF confirmed the retributive strikes, saying it was a response to the hundreds of attacks the Houthis have aimed at Israel in recent months. The group has joined Iran in efforts to punish Israel for its war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli military officials said there is “increasing” evidence that last weekend’s major airstrike on Gaza did in fact kill Mohammed Deif, the Hamas leader thought to have masterminded the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Hamas is concealing what happened to Deif on July 13, when IDF forces dropped five 2,000-pound bombs in the al-Mawasi area, taking out Hamas commander Rafa’a Salameh. Hagari claims Salameh and Deif “were next to each other at the time” of the bombings, and confirmed Salameh was “definitely eliminated” in the attack.
Word of Deif’s likely demise came on the heels of IDF’s strikes Saturday on a building linked to a company that allegedly funds the terrorist group’s atrocities. In other developments, Israeli bombings on Saturday reportedly claimed the lives of nearly 30 Palestinians while peace talks continue at a sluggish pace. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes a cease-fire agreement is imminent. (NYP / VFI News)
“Lord, we ask that You continue to deliver the evil terrorists and masterminds into our hands. We pray for long-lasting peace in Yeshua’s name and for the elimination of all terrorist entities currently wreaking havoc throughout the Middle East. We also pray for all the people who have been tormented during the last 9 months of the war to be relieved and be able to finally rebuild their lives.”
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