Tensions in the Middle East flared significantly on Thursday as Israel’s military conducted extensive bombing raids across Sana, Yemen’s capital. This swift retaliation came just one day after Yemen’s Houthi militia successfully launched a drone strike against the Israeli city of Eilat, an attack that left 20 individuals injured.
The consequences of the Sana strikes were immediate and tragic. Preliminary reports released Thursday evening by the Houthi-led government’s health ministry indicated that at least eight people were killed and 142 wounded. Rescue teams were seen working tirelessly amidst the rubble, searching for survivors.
In an official statement, the Israeli military confirmed the operations, asserting that dozens of its air force jets executed a “wide wave of airstrikes” specifically aimed at “Houthi military targets.”
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, emphasized the severity of the response, stating, “We have just delivered a powerful strike against many terrorist targets,” including “several military camps.” He reiterated a previous warning: “As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be struck sevenfold.”
While the Israeli military described its targets as Houthi facilities, independent verification of the nature of these sites and the exact casualty figures by The New York Times was not immediately possible. However, a witness, Hamid al-Wusabi, who was approximately 100 feet from one blast, reported that a three-story residential building in Sana’s densely populated al-Raqas neighborhood was struck.
“When I came out, the rubble of the building filled the place and ambulances were rushing in,” recounted Mr. al-Wusabi, painting a grim picture of the immediate aftermath and noting that many individuals remained trapped beneath the debris.
The Houthi-operated state news agency, Saba, further alleged that Israeli airstrikes had also hit a detention facility housing “a number of prisoners,” according to an anonymous source within the Houthi government’s intelligence apparatus.
Responding to inquiries about the alleged prison strike, the Israeli military issued a statement clarifying that its targets included “sites belonging to the security and intelligence apparatus, which, among other things, is involved in suppressing regime opponents through the use of political prisons.”
The densely populated capital was simultaneously shaken by multiple heavy explosions, coinciding with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
For months, Israel and the Houthis – an Iran-backed militia holding significant control over northern Yemen – have engaged in reciprocal attacks. However, this conflict has intensified dramatically in recent weeks. Following successful operations against other Iran-aligned groups in the region, the Israeli military has increasingly focused its efforts on the Houthis, launching a series of impactful strikes on Yemeni ports and critical infrastructure.
Just last month, an Israeli attack in Sana resulted in the deaths of senior figures within the Houthi-led government, including Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi. Despite these high-profile casualties, the Houthi military leadership seemed largely unaffected. Human rights organizations have also reported that Israeli strikes in Yemen have killed and wounded dozens of civilians in recent months, raising serious concerns.
The United States has also conducted its own bombing campaigns in Yemen, responding to Houthi assaults on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim these maritime attacks target vessels with ties to Israel, though some targeted ships have shown no clear links to the nation.
While Israeli defenses usually intercept or block Houthi attacks on its territory, a recent incident highlighted a breach. Late Thursday, sirens blared across parts of Israel, followed by a military announcement that a missile from Yemen had been successfully thwarted. However, on Wednesday, a Houthi drone managed to strike Eilat, injuring 20 people, with two critically. The Israeli military acknowledged attempting to intercept the drone, but it successfully bypassed air defenses.
The Houthis initiated their attacks on Israel and international shipping in 2023, shortly after the onset of the war in Gaza. Houthi officials maintain that these actions are a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians enduring Israeli bombardment in Gaza, though many Yemeni analysts suggest their motivations are multi-faceted and complex.
It’s worth noting that 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 contributed reporting from Sana, Yemen, and Natan Odenheimer from Tel Aviv.