Reports Claim Israeli Air Force F-35Is Involved In Israel’s Retaliatory Air Strike In Yemen

July 20, 2024 Yemen
David Cenciotti
F-35I Yemen
File image of an Israeli Air Force F-35I (Image edited by The Aviationist to include map and photo of an explosion in Yemen)

Yemen’s port city of Al Hudaydah controlled by Houthi rebels was reportedly hit by a retaliatory attack launched by the Israeli Air Force using also the F-35I Adir stealth aircraft. The raid marks the first ever Israeli air strike in Yemen.

On Saturday July 20, 2024, international news outlets reported explosions in Yemen’s port city of Al Hudaydah, controlled by Houthi rebels.

According to Al Arabiya, unnamed sources indicate that the strike on the fuel depot and oil refineries at the port of Al-Hudaydah in Yemen was a joint operation by Israel, the US, and the UK. The report further claims that 12 Israeli aircraft, including F-35 fighter jets, took part in the attack.

Some footage circulating online claims to show the Israeli Air Force jets refueling on their way to Yemen. At the moment it is impossible to verify whether the clip was filmed today or not and is related to the air strike.

Retaliatory attack

The attack was launched the day after a drone attack in Tel Aviv. The Israel Defense Forces has just confirmed they conducted airstrikes in Yemen.

“Fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terror regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah Port in Yemen, in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months,” the IDF says.

The military noted that instructions for Israeli civilians remain unchanged and promised further details shortly.

 

A long-range Iranian-made drone struck the center of Tel Aviv on Jul. 19, resulting in one death and four injuries. The attack was claimed by the Yemen-based Houthi militia. The Israeli military identified the drone as an upgraded Iranian-made Samad-3 model, likely originating from Yemen. This incident followed the Israeli military’s confirmation of killing a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon.

Chief spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari noted that the drone did not trigger air raid alarms, possibly due to human error. The explosion raised concerns about further escalation ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The Houthis, aligning with Iran like Hezbollah, stated their attack was in solidarity with Palestinians, using a new drone called “Yafa.” The strike aimed to show the drone’s ability to bypass interception systems and evade radars.

Despite the attack, no new civil defense measures were ordered, though Tel Aviv was placed on heightened alert. Footage showed damage near the US embassy premises in Tel Aviv, with drone fragments recovered nearby. Israel has been in continuous conflict with Hezbollah along its northern border and now faces increasing Houthi attacks.

The ongoing Gaza conflict has intensified, with more than 38,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s assault following Hamas-led fighters’ attack on Israeli towns on October 7, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 hostages taken to Gaza. The situation threatens to escalate into a broader regional conflict as Iranian-backed groups intensify their involvement.

About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.