Operation Black Flag Backfires: Yemen Repels Israeli Assault with Force
The enemy aircraft were intercepted before they could expand their assault beyond Hodeidah. No Israeli jets succeeded in penetrating deeper into Yemeni airspace.
Yemen, PUREWILAYAH.COM - In a dramatic escalation early Monday, Israeli occupation forces launched a wave of airstrikes on western Yemen, targeting the strategic coastal city of Hodeidah and its surrounding infrastructure. According to Israeli media outlet Channel 14, over 56 bombs were dropped during the half-hour assault, hitting key points including seaports, power stations, and civilian infrastructure.
The Israeli Minister of War, Israel Katz, confirmed the initiation of Operation “Black Flag”, describing it as an open campaign against what he called the “strategic assets of the Houthi terror regime”—a term frequently used by Tel Aviv to delegitimize Ansarullah, the leading resistance group in Yemen.
Katz escalated the rhetoric by stating, “Yemen’s fate will be the same as Tehran’s. Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off.”
Yet, events on the ground told a very different story.
Yemeni Air Defenses Respond with Force
Despite the intensity and surprise of the Israeli aggression, Yemen’s air defense forces responded with remarkable speed and coordination.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, announced that a significant portion of the Israeli strike formations was neutralized or repelled by domestically-produced surface-to-air missile systems.
According to military sources cited by Al-Mayadeen, at least 10 Israeli fighter jets were forced to retreat after facing a coordinated barrage of air defenses over Hodeidah and the Red Sea.
"The enemy aircraft were intercepted before they could expand their assault beyond Hodeidah," the military source confirmed, adding that no Israeli jets succeeded in penetrating deeper into Yemeni airspace.
The air engagement reportedly lasted over 30 minutes, unfolding over the Red Sea skies and signaling a new level of military preparedness from the Yemeni side.
Israeli Objectives Fall Short Amid Rising Resistance
Despite Israel's claim of targeting Ansarullah’s military infrastructure, local sources reported that several civilian installations and power stations were struck, further fueling outrage and resistance within the Yemeni populace.
Hizam al-Asad, a senior member of Ansarullah’s Political Bureau, stated in response:
"This aggression will not break the will of the Yemeni people. On the contrary, it will further reinforce our determination to stand by Gaza and confront the Zionist enemy as part of the Axis of Resistance."
He reiterated Yemen’s unwavering commitment to Palestine and denounced the Israeli strikes as desperate acts of intimidation that would ultimately fail.
Timeline of the Attack (Local Time)
🔻 Pre-Midnight – Israeli forces issued public threats targeting Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Salif ports.
🔻 11:41 PM – 12:12 AM – Intense airstrikes began, hitting critical infrastructure in Hodeidah.
🔻 12:15 AM – 12:28 AM – Israeli media confirmed the involvement of the Galaxy Leader vessel as part of the target narrative.
🔻 12:29 AM – 12:33 AM – Israeli warplanes attempted to expand their operation but were intercepted by Yemeni air defenses.
🔻 12:35 AM – Yemen launched the first wave of SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles), forcing 10 Israeli jets to exit the airspace.
🔻 12:47 AM – 12:53 AM – A sustained aerial engagement took place over the Red Sea.
🔻 12:54 AM – Israeli aircraft withdrew from Hodeidah's skies, failing to reach other provinces.
Strategic Implications
This failed Israeli incursion into Yemen signals an emerging vulnerability in Tel Aviv's regional campaign. Not only did the operation fail to achieve its military objectives, but it also highlighted Yemen’s growing air defense capabilities—despite the nation being under siege and bombardment for nearly a decade.
The confrontation underscores the expanding frontlines of the Axis of Resistance, with Yemen proving once again that its solidarity with Gaza is not just symbolic but actively enforced through direct military engagement. (PW)
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