A CNN journalist has provided a rare firsthand account of an Israeli bombing mission on a Houthi-controlled port in Yemen, detailing his experience aboard an aging Boeing 707 refueling tanker high above the Red Sea.
The journalist described donning high-tech 3D goggles to watch as an F-35 fighter jet closed in behind the tanker for refueling. The mission came in the wake of Israel’s ongoing war, which erupted after Hamas’s attack on October 7 of the previous year.
This conflict has expanded beyond Gaza, with confrontations in Lebanon involving Hezbollah and long-range missile threats from the Houthis in Yemen, as well as tensions with Syrian and Iranian forces.
As the journalist boarded the aircraft, the destination of the flight remained undisclosed, emphasizing the operational security surrounding the mission.
Strict Israeli Air Force regulations prohibited the CNN journalist and the IDF spokesman from bringing cell phones or cameras aboard, limiting documentation of this unique experience.
The mission, which took place thousands of miles from Israel, was a key military operation that highlighted Israel’s far-reaching capabilities.
According to the journalist, this was Israel’s longest-range combat mission since 1985. Flying toward Yemen’s Hodeidah Port, the tanker refueled a squadron of F-35 fighter jets en route to target Houthi rebel positions.
In the last two weeks, the Houthis, supported by Iran, have carried out three long-range missile strikes targeting Israel, all of which were intercepted near Tel Aviv.
The journalist noted that the Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, but experts believe that these attacks are also part of a broader effort by the group to garner international support.
During the mission, the F-35 jets were refueled with precision, as the squadron commander utilized advanced 3D goggles to accurately guide the fuel nozzle into position.
The commander highlighted the difficulty of ensuring the jets were fueled enough to reach their target. Timing was critical to ensuring the F-35s arrived on site at the exact moment their intelligence dictated it was best to strike.
Target of Mission: Hodeidah Port In Yemen
The journalist reported that the target for that particular mission was Hodeidah Port in Yemen, a strategic location controlled by the Houthis.
Israeli officials stated that the Houthis were using the port to smuggle Iranian weapons and supplies, as well as oil, in support of their military efforts. As the refueling mission wrapped up, the F-35 jets disengaged and headed toward their targets.
While the tanker circled, waiting for the fighter pilots to carry out their bombing runs, the lead pilot noted the IDF’s commitment to preventing civilian casualties, despite the huge death tolls reported in Gaza and Lebanon.
He maintained that their primary targets were the Houthis, who posed a direct threat to Israeli civilians. The Israeli strike on September 29 targeted infrastructure in western Yemen that the military claimed was utilized by the Houthis.
This operation marked only the second Israeli strike in Yemen, following a July attack by the Israeli Air Force on Hodeidah port after a drone strike in Tel Aviv resulted in a man’s death in his apartment.
NOW: ISRAELI STRIKES IN YEMEN 🚨
What we know so far:
– According to Saudi Al-Arabiya, Israeli airstrikes m hit a power plant at the Hodeidah port.
– Lebanese Al Mayadeen reports additional strikes on oil reserves in Ras Issa, near the Hodeidah port.
– Yemeni media reports… pic.twitter.com/Gv4v1Ef51K
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 29, 2024
The strike in Yemen was more extensive than the one conducted in July. It also occurred as the Israeli Air Force targeted locations in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and reportedly in Syria, amid a multi-front conflict.
The aftermath of the strike, broadcast on Houthi TV, showed images of fire and smoke billowing from the port area, with the Houthis claiming that a power station and fuel store had been hit, resulting in civilian casualties.
By the time they landed back in Israel, news of the strike had spread. The Israeli military stated that dozens of its Air Force aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelers, and reconnaissance planes, were involved in the strikes located roughly 1,800 kilometers from Israel.
The report concluded with a quote from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who stated, “We know how to reach very far, we know how to reach even farther, and we know how to strike there with precision.”
The report stressed that his words were a clear message not only to the Houthis but also to Iran, which remains a looming presence behind many of the forces Israel is currently engaged with across the region.
- Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
