Israel, Houthis exchange strikes amid rising regional tensions

Israeli forces and the Yemen-based anti-government Houthi group have been engaging in tit-for-tat strikes, raising concerns over escalating tensions.

The Houthis carried out a drone attack on Friday on Israel's largest commercial city of Tel Aviv.

In response, the Israeli military said on Saturday that it had conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in the western Yemeni city of Hodeidah. Israel claimed that the city's port was used for deliveries of weapons.

An Israeli media outlet reported that it was the first time for Israel to announce its air raid on Yemen.

The Houthi group said the airstrikes destroyed civilian facilities, including a power plant. A Yemeni media outlet reported that three people had been killed and 87 others wounded.

On Sunday, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward southern Israel. The Israeli military said it intercepted the projectile.

The group has claimed solidarity with the Islamic group Hamas, which has been fighting Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis say they will continue their attacks as long as those battles continue.

Tensions are also rising between Israeli forces and the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah. That group has been firing rockets toward northern Israel.

Israeli forces continued offensives in central Gaza and other parts of the enclave on Sunday.

Palestinian media reported that 11 people died in Israeli bombing. Gaza health authorities said the latest casualties pushed the total death toll there to 38,919.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday during his trip to the United States.

Netanyahu's visit will be the first since the current conflict began between Israel and Hamas last October.

The Israeli leader is scheduled to address the US Congress on Wednesday.