Why it matters:
The new attack marks a significant expansion of Yemen’s retaliatory strikes, directly targeting U.S. and Israeli assets in response to the Israeli genocide in Gaza and American military aggressions in Yemen.
The big picture:
Yemen’s missile force fired Zulfiqar and Palestine-2 hypersonic missiles at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv-occupied Yaffa. Meanwhile, the USS Harry S. Truman and its escort warships in the Red Sea were targeted with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Yemen’s Armed Forces have vowed to sustain attacks until the Israeli regime ends its genocide in Gaza and lifts the siege.
What he’s saying:
Yemeni military spokesman Yahya Saree: “With Allah’s help, we will continue to block Israeli maritime navigation and strike the depths of the occupying entity until the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.”
Saree said that the attacks on U.S. warships were a direct response to “American aggression” against Yemen, marking the second strike within 24 hours.
Key points:
- Yemen’s attacks came after U.S. airstrikes killed 53 Yemenis on March 15—the first since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office.
- U.S. warplanes struck the Al-Rasool Al-Azam Oncology Hospital in Yemen’s Sa’ada province, with Yemeni officials calling it a war crime.
- The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed continued operations against Yemen, and Washington is deploying a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the region.
- Yemen resumed targeting Israeli-linked vessels last week after the Israeli regime violated a ceasefire by cutting off humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Go deeper:
Yemen’s support of the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza has evolved from targeting Israeli-linked commercial shipping to direct military confrontations with Israeli and U.S. forces.
Mojtaba Darabi
