Israel is determined to knock out the ability of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement to attack Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday.

"We are determined to cut off this terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil. We will persist in this until we complete the job," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

Speaking from the Israeli Air Force command center in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu confirmed Israel launched air strikes on Houthi targets at Sana'a airport and Red Sea ports.