US, UK Strike Houthi Targets After 180 Rockets Fired From Lebanon At Israel

Amid the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claiming that about 180 missiles were fired from Lebanon at Northern Israel Friday, US officials confirmed to the Associated Press that the US has hit about a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen. UK was also involved in the mission, UK officials confirmed.Military aircraft and warships targeted Houthi strongholds at approximately five locations, the US official confirmed to AP. Houthi media stated seven strikes hit Hodeida's airport and the Katheib area, where a Houthi-controlled military base is located. Four more strikes impacted Seiyana in Sanaa, two hit Dhamar province, and three air raids occurred in Bayda province, southeast of the capital.The Houthis, are an Iran-backed political and military group based in Yemen. Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli pushback on Gaza, the Houthis have targeted 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones.US-led strikes followed Houthi claims of downing a US drone and launching intercepted ballistic missiles at American warships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. US strikes occurred shortly after Houthi rebels threatened “escalating military operations” against Israel, heightening tensions with Iran's proxies. Meanwhile, the Times of Israel reported citing the IDF that about 180 rockets were launched toward northern Israel on Friday. The report said that there were no injuries or major damage as a result of the attack. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Health Minister Firas Abiad reported nearly 2,000 deaths and over 9,000 wounded from Israeli attacks on the country. Among the 1,974 killed, 261 were women, 127 were children and 102 were healthcare workers. Most of the deaths have taken place in the last one month. Abiad condemned the attacks as war crimes, criticizing Israel for acting as "judge and executioner."(With agency inputs)