On Sunday, Israel launched airstrikes on the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, in response to multiple missile attacks by Houthi militants. Houthi health officials reported that the attack resulted in the deaths of 6 people and left 86 injured.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the targets of the attack included military areas near the presidential palace, two power plants, and a fuel storage facility. The Israeli military claimed that the Houthis were using these civilian infrastructures for military purposes.
Reports from the Israeli newspaper “Israel Today” stated that about 12 air force planes, including fighter jets and refueling aircraft, participated in the operation. Due to the long distance, there were multiple in-flight refuelings. The Israeli military dropped around 35 munitions on the four targets. Social media videos showed a massive fireball and thick smoke after the explosion at the fuel facility.
Israel stated that the strike was in response to the Houthi armed forces launching ballistic missiles and drone attacks. According to an Israeli military investigation, a ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead was launched from Yemen last Friday night, hitting a house in central Israel, causing damage. Fortunately, the female homeowner had taken shelter in a reinforced safe room and was unharmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir observed the operation at the Tel Aviv Air Force Command Center.
Netanyahu said, “Whoever attacks us, we will attack them. Whoever plans to attack us, we will act first. I believe the entire region is understanding Israel’s strength and determination.”
He added, “The Houthi terrorist regime is learning a painful lesson: they are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against Israel.”
On the Houthi side, they vowed to continue their actions. Senior Houthi official Abdul Qader al-Murtada wrote on X platform, “Israel must know that we will never abandon our brothers in Gaza, no matter the cost.”
Houthi media office deputy director Nasruddin Amer also stated, “Our support for military operations in Gaza will not cease unless aggression stops and the blockade is lifted, God willing.”
Since the outbreak of the Gaza War in 2023, Houthi militants have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel and attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming to support the Palestinian people. These actions have severely disrupted international shipping, affecting approximately $1 trillion in goods circulation.
Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, with Sunday’s operation marking the 15th strike in nearly a year and a half. Israel warns that the Houthis have been provided with more advanced cluster bomb technology by Iran, increasing the difficulty of interception, which could further escalate regional security risks.