Israel’s military launched airstrikes across Yemen’s capital on Thursday. This action came just a day after the Houthi militia, operating out of Yemen, conducted a drone attack against Israel, which resulted in 20 injuries.
Initial reports from the Houthi-led government’s health ministry in Yemen indicated that at least two people were killed and 48 wounded in the Sana strikes by early Thursday evening.
In an official statement, the Israeli military confirmed that dozens of its air force jets had executed a ‘wide wave of airstrikes’ targeting ‘Houthi military installations.’
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declared, ‘We have just delivered a powerful strike against many terrorist targets,’ specifying that ‘several military camps’ were among those hit. He added, ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be struck sevenfold.’
The New York Times could not immediately confirm the exact nature of the sites attacked or the precise number of casualties. However, Hamid al-Wusabi, an eyewitness who was roughly 100 feet from the blast, stated that one of the strikes demolished a three-story residential building in Sana’s densely populated al-Raqas neighborhood.
Mr. al-Wusabi recounted, ‘When I came out, the rubble of the building filled the place and ambulances were rushing in,’ noting that many individuals were still trapped beneath the wreckage.
During a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, multiple powerful explosions simultaneously shook the crowded city. Al-Houthi did not reference the ongoing Israeli strikes during his address.
For months, Israel and the Houthis—an Iran-backed militia controlling much of northern Yemen—have engaged in reciprocal attacks. This conflict has intensified dramatically in recent weeks. After significantly weakening other Iranian-backed factions in the region, Israel’s military has now focused its efforts on the Houthis, executing a series of impactful strikes on Yemeni ports and other key infrastructure.
In August, an Israeli assault in Sana led to the deaths of high-ranking members of the Houthi-led government, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi. However, the group’s military leadership largely escaped harm. Human rights organizations report that Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have also caused numerous civilian casualties, including dozens killed and injured, in recent months.
Typically, Houthi attacks on Israel are either blocked or intercepted by the Israeli military. Yet, on Wednesday, a Houthi drone successfully bypassed Israeli air defenses, striking the city of Eilat and causing injuries to 20 people, two of whom were seriously hurt, according to Israeli paramedics.
The Houthis initiated their attacks on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea in 2023, following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. While Houthi officials claim these attacks are an act of solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israeli bombardment in Gaza, Yemeni analysts suggest their motivations are more intricate.
Hamas, the Palestinian armed group responsible for the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that sparked the Gaza war, also receives support from Iran.