Israel-Gaza war live updates: Houthi official warns of ‘dire consequences’ after U.S., U.K. strikes in Yemen

Israel on Friday will present its defense to South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegation, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described as “meritless.” Judges are expected to rule on South Africa’s provisional request within weeks, but a verdict on the core question of genocide could take years.

Masirah, the Houthi-run news channel, reported that strikes hit airports and other areas in Hodeida and Taiz, cities near Yemen’s Red Sea coast, as well as a military base in the northern province of Saada. It quoted El-Ezzi, the deputy foreign minister, calling the strikes a “blatant aggression.” He added that the United States and Britain “will have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences.”

Warplanes from both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force were used in the attacks on Houthi targets, with strikes involving aircraft, surface vessels and submarines, a U.S. defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The official said the operation required suppressing Houthi air defenses and then targeting radar and facilities used to store and launch unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. The U.S.-led mission struck 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, officials said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement that the Royal Air Force took part in the strikes. A British official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation, said Britain participated in the strikes with Typhoon fighters launched from Royal Air Force Akrotiri, an air base on Cyprus.

At least 23,469 people have been killed in Gaza and 59,604 wounded since the war began, the Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.