{"text":[[{"start":10.25,"text":"Israeli warplanes have hit port and energy targets across Yemen, including its first strikes on the capital Sana'a, marking the third direct attack by Israel against Iran-backed Houthi militants this year. "}],[{"start":21.27,"text":"The Israeli military said it had launched “precise strikes” against targets that “contributed to [the Houthis’] military actions”, including port facilities on the Red Sea coast at Hodeida, As-Salif and Ras Isa, as well as energy installations in Sana'a. "},{"start":35.299,"text":"Nine people were killed in the strikes, according to reports from Houthi-controlled media. "}],[{"start":40.379999999999995,"text":"The strikes early on Thursday came shortly after the Houthis, who control Yemen, launched ballistic missiles at the country which were intercepted by Israel’s air defences. "},{"start":49.346999999999994,"text":"Residents of central Israel were woken by air raid sirens, and a school outside Tel Aviv was severely damaged by what authorities said were probably missile fragments. "}],[{"start":58.50999999999999,"text":"Israeli defence minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat to the group’s leaders on Thursday, saying “Israel’s long hand will reach you too”. "}],[{"start":66.33999999999999,"text":"“Whoever raises a hand against the State of Israel — his hand will be cut off. "},{"start":70.79399999999998,"text":"Whoever harms us — will be harmed sevenfold,” he added. "}],[{"start":75.33999999999999,"text":"The Houthis began firing on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and launching drones and missiles at Israel after Gaza-based militant group Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, saying they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians. "},{"start":87.75699999999999,"text":"Their assaults severely disrupted shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes. "}],[{"start":93.77999999999999,"text":"Together with Hamas, Lebanese militants Hizbollah and Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, the Houthis formed an Iran-led “axis of resistance” whose capabilities have been severely degraded by Israel in recent months. "}],[{"start":105.87999999999998,"text":"A multinational naval task force, led by US and UK forces, has attempted to protect merchant vessels in the region. "},{"start":113.14699999999998,"text":"On Monday it launched air strikes on what the US military said was a Houthi “command and control facility” in Sana'a. "}],[{"start":120.35999999999999,"text":"The Houthis have launched “hundreds” of missiles and armed drones at Israel, according to the Israeli military, including most recently a long-range missile that targeted central Israel on Monday. "},{"start":130.12699999999998,"text":"An Israeli military official confirmed that jets were “already in the air” early on Thursday when the latest Houthi missile was fired. "}],[{"start":137.54999999999998,"text":"“This operation was already planned . . . it’s not something you carry out within five minutes of a ballistic missile launch,” the official added. "}],[{"start":145.23999999999998,"text":"A Houthi drone strike last July killed one person in Tel Aviv, in what was believed to be an operation targeting a US embassy building. "},{"start":152.807,"text":"That attack led to the first direct long-range strikes by Israel on Yemen, targeting port facilities in Hodeida. "},{"start":158.93699999999998,"text":"Continued Houthi missile barrages on Israel led to a subsequent bombing raid in September. "}],[{"start":164.35999999999999,"text":"The Houthis have vowed to maintain their attacks on both Israel and international shipping until the war in Gaza ends. "}],[{"start":170.74999999999997,"text":"General Yahya Sare’e, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, on Thursday claimed the group had launched two “hypersonic ballistic missiles” on Israeli military targets, calling it a “natural and legitimate response” to air strikes on Yemen. "}],[{"start":183.97999999999996,"text":"“The Israeli aggression will not deter Yemen and the Yemenis from performing their religious and moral duty in responding to [Israel’s] massacres in the Gaza Strip,” the spokesman said in a statement. "}],[{"start":195.09999999999997,"text":"Additional reporting by Ahmed Al Omran "}],[{"start":197.55999999999997,"text":""}]],"url":"https://creatives.ftmailbox.cn/album/185736-1734627807.mp3"}