Israeli airstrikes hit the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sunday, killing six people and wounding 86 others, according to Houthi health officials. The strikes were carried out in retaliation for missiles launched toward Israel by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The Israeli military confirmed that the targets included a military compound housing the presidential palace, two power plants, and a fuel storage facility.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation was a direct response to “repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel and its civilians, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs toward Israeli territory in recent days.”
On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for firing a ballistic missile at Israel, describing it as part of their campaign to support Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. An Israeli Air Force official said the missile appeared to carry multiple sub-munitions designed to detonate on impact — the first of its kind launched from Yemen.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, Houthi fighters have expanded their operations beyond Yemen, targeting vessels in the Red Sea and frequently launching missiles toward Israel. Most of these have been intercepted, but Israeli forces have responded with repeated strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including Sanaa and the strategic port city of Hodeidah.
Abdul Qader al-Murtada, a senior Houthi figure, vowed on Sunday that the group would continue its actions in solidarity with Palestinians. “(Israel) must know that we will not abandon our brothers in Gaza, whatever the sacrifices,” he said on X.
The escalating exchanges mark over a year of cross-border hostilities between Israel and the Houthis, underscoring the widening regional fallout from the Gaza conflict.
Written By Rodney Mbua
