Israel launches air strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, Houthis claim defences repelled attack

Israel carried out a series of air strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other areas overnight, targeting sites linked to the Iran-backed Houthi movement, according to statements from both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Houthi-affiliated media. BBC is reporting the IDF confirmed that its air force struck “military camps” in Sanaa and Al-Jawf provinces where it said Houthi operatives were identified. It added that the raids also targeted “the headquarters of the Houthi military propaganda department, and a fuel storage site.” While the IDF did not specify the number of strikes conducted

Israel carried out a series of air strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other areas overnight, targeting sites linked to the Iran-backed Houthi movement, according to statements from both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Houthi-affiliated media. BBC is reporting the IDF confirmed that its air force struck “military camps” in Sanaa and Al-Jawf provinces where it said Houthi operatives were identified. It added that the raids also targeted “the headquarters of the Houthi military propaganda department, and a fuel storage site.” While the IDF did not specify the number of strikes conducted, Houthi-affiliated media reported that at least six air raids hit Sanaa. International agencies Reuters and AFP, citing Houthi sources, said several people were killed in the strikes. The full toll is still unclear. The Houthis, who have controlled much of north-western Yemen since 2014, responded with claims that their forces had successfully repelled a significant part of the Israeli assault. A spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces said in a statement on Telegram that air defence units launched multiple surface-to-air missiles, forcing some Israeli aircraft to retreat before completing their missions. The spokesperson described the attack as having “failed in large part.” Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, following Hamas’s assault on Israel, the Houthis have frequently launched missiles and drones toward Israel and attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, framing their actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In response, both Israel and the United States have previously conducted air strikes on Houthi positions. The latest round of strikes marks an escalation in Israel’s campaign against the Houthis, who continue to present themselves as a key regional force aligned with Iran and committed to confronting Israel’s military actions.