Tensions in the Middle East have dramatically escalated following a series of retaliatory strikes. On Thursday, Israel’s military launched a bombing campaign across the Yemeni capital, Sana, just one day after a Houthi militia drone attack injured 20 individuals in the Israeli city of Eilat.
According to preliminary figures released by Yemen’s Houthi-led government’s health ministry, these Israeli airstrikes in Sana resulted in at least two deaths and 48 injuries.
The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating that dozens of air force jets conducted a ‘wide wave of airstrikes’ against what they described as ‘Houthi military targets.’
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, asserted in a statement, ‘We have just delivered a powerful strike against many terrorist targets,’ specifically mentioning ‘several military camps’ among the objectives. He added a stern warning: ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be struck sevenfold.’
The exact nature of the sites attacked and the full casualty count are yet to be independently verified. However, Hamid al-Wusabi, an eyewitness approximately 100 feet from one blast, reported that a three-story residential building in the densely populated al-Raqas neighborhood of Sana was hit. Mr. al-Wusabi recounted that ‘the rubble of the building filled the place and ambulances were rushing in,’ noting that many people were still trapped beneath the debris.
The city experienced multiple heavy explosions concurrently with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who did not address the ongoing Israeli strikes during his address.
The conflict between Israel and the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia controlling much of northern Yemen, has intensified significantly in recent weeks. For months, both sides have exchanged attacks, but Israel’s military appears to be shifting its focus to the Houthis after weakening other Iranian-backed groups in the region. This has led to a series of impactful strikes on Yemeni ports and other vital infrastructure.
Last August, an Israeli attack in Sana led to the deaths of senior members of the Houthi-led government, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi. Despite this, the group’s military command largely remained intact. Human rights organizations have also documented dozens of civilian casualties from Israeli strikes in Yemen in recent months.
Typically, Houthi attacks on Israel are intercepted. However, Wednesday’s drone strike on Eilat managed to evade Israeli air defenses, injuring 20 people, two of whom were in serious condition, according to Israeli paramedics.
The Houthis initiated attacks on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea in 2023, following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Houthi officials claim these actions are a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians facing Israeli bombardment in Gaza, though Yemeni analysts suggest their motivations are multifaceted.
Hamas, the Palestinian armed group responsible for the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that ignited the Gaza war, also receives support from Iran.
Shuaib Almosawa and Natan Odenheimer contributed to this report.