Israel Conducts Major Air Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen's Capital Following Drone Attack

Yemen: Israel conducted air strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, which is controlled by Houthi rebels, on Thursday, according to both Houthi media sources and Israeli officials. This military action came one day after a drone attack wounded approximately two dozen people at an Israeli resort.

AFP correspondents stationed in Sanaa reported hearing explosions and observing smoke plumes rising from three different locations around the Sanaa area. This marks the latest retaliatory strike since the Houthis began launching attacks against Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict.

The Houthis' media outlet, Al-Masirah television, reported the "Israeli aggression" on Sanaa, which occurred just before the network was scheduled to broadcast rebel leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi's weekly pre-recorded address.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on social platform X that Israeli forces had "just dealt a powerful blow to numerous terror targets of the Huthi terror organisation in Sanaa."

According to an Israeli military statement, the targets included the Houthis' general staff headquarters and various security and intelligence facilities, including those used for weapons storage and for "planning and executing" attacks against Israel.

The statement further noted that the rebels' "military public relations headquarters" was among the targeted sites.

Minister Katz claimed that Israeli forces had "struck several military camps... eliminated dozens of Huthi terror operatives, and destroyed stockpiles of UAVs (drones) and weaponry."

The Israeli military warned that it would "conduct additional offensive operations against the Huthi regime in the near future."

On Wednesday, Israel's military reported that a drone launched from Yemen had struck the southern tourist destination of Eilat, with emergency services documenting 22 wounded individuals, following unsuccessful attempts to intercept the aerial device.

The Houthi rebels subsequently claimed responsibility for this attack, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz to warn of severe consequences.

The Iran-supported Houthi rebels initiated their campaign of targeting Israel with missiles and drones, as well as attacking vessels they consider linked to Israel, following the commencement of the Gaza war in 2023.

The Houthis maintain that their actions are taken in solidarity with Palestinians.

In response, Israel has executed strikes in Yemen, primarily targeting infrastructure including ports, power stations, and Sanaa's international airport.

In August, Israel assassinated the head of the Huthi government, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, along with other high-ranking officials.

Earlier this month, Israeli strikes resulted in 46 fatalities, according to Houthi authorities.

Among the dead were journalists working for the September 26 and al-Yaman newspapers, who were killed during an attack on Sanaa that targeted the Houthis' military media operations.