The Israeli military says its air force has carried out its 'most powerful strike' in Yemen in response to the Houthi movement's repeated drone and missile attacks on Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that dozens of its aircraft bombed targets affiliated with the Houthis' security and intelligence services, as well as military sites in the capital Sanaa.
The Houthi-run government's health ministry condemned the assault, labeling it a 'brutal crime' and reporting that eight people were killed, with many civilian facilities and residential buildings among the targets.
This offensive follows a Houthi drone attack on Israel's Red Sea resort of Eilat that injured 22 people, two seriously.
The Houthis, who have ruled much of northwestern Yemen since toppling the internationally recognized government a decade ago, intensified their attacks on Israel and international waters following the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023.
The IDF has conducted numerous airstrikes in Yemen as retaliation for the continuous drone and missile threats from the Houthis.
Following the Israeli strikes on Thursday, significant black smoke was seen billowing from multiple regions in Sanaa. The attacks reportedly occurred just before the Houthi media network, Al-Masirah, started airing a speech from their leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
Health ministry spokeswoman Dr. Anees al-Asbahi reported damages extending to residential areas in the Maain and Sabaeen districts, alongside the Dhahban power station. She condemned the IDF for the 'deliberate targeting of civilian establishments,' categorizing the strikes as 'war crimes.'
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that his country had undertaken substantial operations against 'terror targets' linked to the Houthi group in Sanaa. He emphasized an ongoing commitment to retaliate against Houthi aggression against Israel.
