Israel Strikes Airport and Power Stations in Yemen

Netanyahu pledges to stop Iran-backed Houthi militants' missile attacks

- DOV LIEBER AND SALEH AL-BATATI

Israel escalated strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, launching attacks on the capital and beyond that officials said were intended to deter the last Iran-backed group to pose a direct threat.

Israeli warplanes struck the San’a airport and hit two power stations, pounding infrastructure that the military says the Houthis use to bring Iranian weapons and officials into Yemen.

The Houthis have continued to lob ballistic missiles at Israel, even after the Israeli military largely defeated the two main foes on its doorstep— Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon—and saw its archenemy Iran retreat from its stronghold in Syria.

Now, an emboldened Israel is turning its attention to the Houthis, who have gained legitimacy at home and in the Arab world for missile and drone attacks on Israel and on ships in and near the Red Sea. The group says the campaign is aimed at supporting Palestinian militants fighting Israel in Gaza.

"We are determined to cut off this terrorist arm of Iran's evil axis," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.