Israeli warplanes struck Yemen‘s capital Sanaa on Sunday, killing two people and wounding thirty-five others, the Iran-backed Houthis confirmed the attack, emphasizing their ongoing missile and drone attacks against Israel during the Gaza war. Consequently, dramatic AFP images captured a massive fireball illuminating Sanaa’s night sky followed by thick black smoke. Furthermore, the Houthis’ health ministry specifically reported “two martyrs and 35 wounded” from the Israeli raid.
Immediate Aftermath in Sanaa
A Houthi security source told AFP the air raid hit a central municipal building, while Al-Masirah TV claimed the two fatalities occurred at an oil company facility strike. Additionally, the channel stated the targets included a southern Sanaa power station previously damaged last Sunday. The Israeli military explicitly said it targeted Houthi military sites near the presidential palace plus two power plants and a fuel storage facility. Consequently, the army declared, “These strikes respond directly to repeated Houthi terrorist regime attacks against Israel and its civilians.”
The Houthis fired a missile late Friday which Israeli authorities believe “most likely fragmented in mid-air, as the rebels have consistently launched missiles and drones at Israel since October 2023, claiming this action shows solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.
Although forces typically intercept most Houthi attacks, they trigger Israeli retaliatory air strikes inside Yemen. Specifically, Israel targeted a Sanaa energy site linked to the Houthis on 17 August, with Al-Masirah reporting the Haziz power station suffered damage then. Significantly, the latest Israeli statement confirmed Haziz received another strike on Sunday.
Escalating Regional Tensions
Beyond attacking Israel directly, the Houthis target ships they associate with the country in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Moreover, the group expanded its campaign to hit US and British-linked vessels after those nations began military operations securing the waterway in January 2024.
Although the rebels established a US ceasefire in May ending intense American strikes, they vowed to keep targeting Israeli ships specifically, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warning earlier this month they would “pay with compound interest for every attempt to fire at Israel.”
This latest strike demonstrates Israel’s continued resolve to confront Houthi threats actively across the region. Therefore, the conflict shows no immediate signs of de-escalation despite previous diplomatic efforts.
