Israel Strikes Back: Retaliation Against Yemen's Houthis for Cluster Bomb Use

Following a Houthi missile attack that reportedly employed cluster munitions, Israel has executed air strikes against military targets in Yemen's capital. The conflict reflects heightened regional tensions as both sides engage in escalatory measures.

Israel has conducted a series of air strikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in retaliation for a missile strike from the Iran-backed group that reportedly utilized cluster munitions. The Israeli military confirmed that the missile attack, which occurred on Friday and resulted in minor damage, marked the first known instance of the Houthis deploying such controversial weapons during the ongoing conflict with Israel.

The air strikes focused on a military complex that includes the presidential palace, a local fuel depot, and several power stations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz supervised the operation, reinforcing a message of deterrence. “Anyone who attacks us - we attack them. Anyone planning to attack us - we attack them,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing Israel's resolve in the face of aggression.

In response to the missile attack, which caused light harm in the central Israeli town of Ginaton, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are currently investigating their failure to intercept the missile prior to the detonation of bomblets. Cluster munitions, which scatter numerous smaller explosives over a wide area, are banned by over 100 countries due to their potential to cause significant civilian harm both upon initial use and later when unexploded devices are triggered by unsuspecting individuals.

Since taking control of much of north-western Yemen in 2014, the Houthis have been involved in a protracted civil war and have increasingly conducted missile attacks against Israel following the escalation of violence with Hamas in Gaza in October 2023. The Houthis have claimed these strikes as acts of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, while maintaining receipt of support from Iran, which has similarly deployed cluster bombs in previous conflicts.