Six people were injured in the attack, and at least 20 airlines have indefinitely paused flights to Israel. Israel's air-defense systems, along with the U.S. THAAD missile defense system deployed in Israel, were utilized but failed to intercept the missile.
Following the strike, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We, along with the entire world, are under threat from the Houthis. We will not tolerate it and will take very strong retaliatory action against them."
"We will always remember that they acted under the orders and with the support of their patron — Iran," Netanyahu added.
In response, Israel carried out a significant operation today — with around 20 Israeli fighter jets conducting nearly 50 airstrikes 2,000 kilometers away in Yemen. The strikes targeted Houthi infrastructure, including a port used to bring in Iranian weapons and a concrete factory used to build Houthi tunnels and bunkers.
Israel's ability to carry out these strikes against a shared threat to America and Israel is a direct result of decades of U.S. security assistance and military support for the Jewish state.
"The strike was conducted in response to the repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against Israel, during which surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs were launched toward Israeli civilians...
"The Houthi terrorist regime has been operating under Iranian direction and funding, in order to target Israel and its allies, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation.
"The IDF is determined to continue operating, at any distance, against all threats posed to the State of Israel."
Yemeni media reported that the U.S. carried out strikes in the capital city of Sana'a earlier in the day.
The United States must continue to work with Israel and our other allies to increase the pressure on Iran and its terrorist proxies.
Trump reaffirms commitment to "total dismantlement" of Iranian nuclear program
In a significant statement of American policy, President Trump made clear in an interview yesterday that he will only accept a nuclear agreement with Iran that includes "total dismantlement" of the regime's nuclear program.
The United States must continue to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime coupled with a credible threat of military force to facilitate time-bound negotiations to verifiably and permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel planning major expansion of Gaza operations if Hamas continues to refuse to release hostages
Israel is planning a major expansion of operations in Gaza if no hostage release deal is reached by the time President Trump arrives in the Middle East next week.
Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan last night to gradually take control of all of Gaza and hold it indefinitely if no deal is reached by May 15. The plan is codenamed "Operation Gideon’s Chariots."
Urban warfare expert John Spencer writes that "this new plan represents a significant shift. It appears guided by a phased strategy rooted in lessons from past conflicts—Clear, Hold, Build." He continues:
"As part of this effort, civilians will be temporarily evacuated from combat zones in northern and central Gaza to humanitarian safe zones in the south recently cleared by the IDF. This aims to separate the civilian population from Hamas militants and allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
"A critical component of the plan: humanitarian aid will be delivered directly to Gazans, bypassing Hamas entirely. This move seeks to remove one of Hamas’s key sources of power—its control over the distribution of food, fuel, and medicine.
"But a new challenge has emerged: the United Nations has refused to assist. Despite the scale of the humanitarian crisis, the U.N. has made it clear it will not support aid delivery unless Hamas is given a role—an untenable position given Hamas’s status as the governing and military threat being dismantled."
Meanwhile, the IDF yesterday destroyed "loaded and ready-to-fire Hamas rocket launchers... aimed at Israeli territory from the area of Khan Younis."
"The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organizations who aim to harm our civilians," it said.
The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar, Turkey and Iran to release the 59 hostages, including 5 Americans, still held in captivity in Gaza.
Israeli foreign minister visits Ethiopia
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met today with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
"Had productive discussions today on Ethio-Israeli relations with Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar during his visit to Ethiopia. Our two nations continue to share a long-standing relationship grounded in historical roots and ancient connections. Today, our partnership spans economic, political, diplomatic, and social spheres, among many others," Ali said.
House passes Solidify Iran Sanctions Act
This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (H.R. 1800) with overwhelming bipartisan support.
This bill extends major existing sanctions on Iran, which are set to expire in 2026, ensuring the United States continues to maintain economic pressure on the regime.
AIPAC applauds the House for advancing this important bill and urges the Senate to quickly take up and pass it.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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