Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa and the northern
al-Jawf province killed at least 35 people and injured more than 130, according
to Houthi officials. The strikes are in response to recent Houthi drone and
missile attacks on Israel, including a drone strike on an Israeli airport.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Houthi Strongholds in Yemen
As reported by Anees Alasbahi of Euronews, Israeli jets launched a series of airstrikes on Wednesday targeting Houthi military camps, propaganda headquarters, and a fuel depot in Sanaa and al-Jawf province. The strikes are part of Israel's ongoing campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi group, marking the 17th such offensive since the conflict began in November 2023. According to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz,
"We promised more strikes, and today we dealt another painful blow to the Houthi terror organisation in Yemen."
The Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) confirmed the targets
included military camps where Houthi operatives were gathered and the
headquarters of the terror group's propaganda division, responsible for
spreading incitement and psychological warfare, including speeches by the
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and spokesman Yahya Saree.
Casualties and Damage Reported by Houthis
The Houthi-run health ministry spokesperson Anees Alasbahi
told Euronews that the airstrikes killed at least 35 people and wounded more
than 130, with search and rescue crews still digging through rubble. Most
casualties occurred in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, where strikes hit a military
headquarters and a fuel station vital for hospitals, as detailed by Essam
al-Mutawakel, spokesperson for the militia-run Yemen Petroleum Company, in a
statement carried by Al-Masirah, a Houthi-controlled news channel.
Al-Masirah also reported damage to neighbouring homes and a
government facility in the strategic northern city of Hazm, the capital of
al-Jawf province.
Retaliation Following Houthi Drone Attack on Israel
This wave of Israeli airstrikes comes just days after the
Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack that hit Ramon Airport in
southern Israel, a breach of Israel’s multilayered air defences described by
the IDF as an escalation in hostile acts. The IDF also reported that the
Houthis launched another ballistic missile towards southern Israel early
Thursday, which was intercepted by air defences.
The Houthis have fired missiles and drones toward Israel
repeatedly since the outbreak of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza in late
2023. The Houthis claim to be supporting Hamas and the Palestinians.
Houthi Military Response
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesman, stated on his Telegram channel that their surface-to-air missiles had been fired at the Israeli jets during the airstrikes, asserting ongoing resistance to the Israeli aggression. The Houthis’ slogan calling for
“Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse on the Jews”
underlines the ideological dimension to
the conflict.
International Reactions and Broader Context
The attacks coincide with a period of heightened tension in
the Middle East. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced
plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel in
response to its broader military operations, including airstrikes targeting
Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this week, as reported by AP News.
Israel’s cross-border strikes have extended to multiple
countries, with airstrikes reported in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia,
Qatar, and now Yemen in recent days, reflecting the widening scope of regional
conflict linked to the Gaza war.
Background on the Yemen Conflict and Israel-Houthi Hostility
The Houthis took control of most of Yemen’s northwest,
including Sanaa, in 2014. Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in
Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have intensified missile and drone attacks on
Israel and maritime targets in the Red Sea. Israel’s counter-strikes have
included targeted killings, such as the assassination of the Houthi prime
minister and several cabinet members in a strike on August 28, 2025, which
reportedly killed at least 12 ministers.
The current Israeli offensive underscores the ongoing
tit-for-tat dynamics in the region where proxy actors linked to Iran and Hamas
expand hostilities beyond Gaza, raising fears of broader regional escalation.