Israel confirmed airstrikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, targeting Houthi military sites, including the presidential palace, in response to recent Houthi missile attacks on Israel. The Israeli military stated that the strikes hit multiple locations across the capital, including a power plant and a gas station.
Residents reported loud explosions and smoke plumes near a central gathering place in the capital. “The sound of explosions was very strong,” said Hussein Mohamed, a resident living near the presidential palace. Ahmed al-Mekhlafy, another resident, described the force of the attack, saying, “The house was rocked, and the windows were shattered.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement, “Multiple military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in Sanaa, Yemen, including a military site in which the presidency palace is located, the Adar and Hizaz power plants, and a site for storing fuel—all used for the military activity of the Houthi regime.” The IDF emphasized that these strikes were carried out in response to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel with missiles and UAVs.
The Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for over 22 months. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the Houthis “will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against” Israel. The airstrikes have caused significant damage, with reports of casualties and injuries. Similar attacks were reported in the port city of Hodeidah.