Israel announces ‘significant’ air raids on Houthi command centers in Sanaa, resulting in numerous casualties.
The Israeli Defense Forces have conducted a series of air raids targeting the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as reported by Al Masirah TV, which observed thick smoke billowing over the city following the assault.
An official spokesperson for the Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating that multiple fighter jets and aerial support units were deployed to strike what they described as the “command centers of the Houthi General Staff” along with facilities linked to the group’s intelligence and security branches.
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Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, characterized the attacks as “potent,” claiming they resulted in the deaths of “dozens of Houthi militants” in a statement shared on X. Contrarily, Houthi-aligned media sources reported two fatalities and 48 injuries from the strikes.
These air raids coincided with a live broadcast of a speech by Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi.
Among the targeted locations were the headquarters of the “military propaganda division” and armed camps housing weaponry, according to the Israeli military, which framed the strikes as retaliation for recent Houthi drone and missile offensives against Israeli territory.
Just a day prior, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a hotel in Eilat, Israel’s port city on the Red Sea, following a sequence of twelve Israeli air attacks on Yemen’s strategic port of Hodeidah.
During his address, al-Houthi condemned Israel for what he termed “brutal aggression and genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, as the conflict there approaches its two-year mark. He criticized the United States for vetoing a Security Council resolution aimed at enforcing a ceasefire and lifting Israeli blockades, asserting that this stance “encourages Israel to persist in its violations.”
He also lauded Palestinian groups for their “valiant operations” against Israeli forces, despite their limited resources.
According to Reuters, eyewitnesses in Sanaa reported that the Israeli strikes targeted districts in the southern and western parts of the city.
Air raids by Israel on Yemen have become a frequent occurrence, often causing severe destruction to civilian infrastructure, including residential areas and the main international airport, with casualties frequently numbering in the dozens.
Earlier this month, similar Israeli attacks in Sanaa and the northern al-Jawf province resulted in over 40 deaths, including journalists and children.
Since Israel initiated its extensive military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have launched multiple drone and missile strikes against Israeli targets, declaring their actions as solidarity with Palestinians under siege and vowing to continue until a lasting ceasefire is established. They have also targeted maritime vessels in the Red Sea.
These Houthi assaults on shipping have prompted retaliatory strikes from both the United States and the United Kingdom.