Israeli airstrikes struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a key port city early Thursday, killing at least nine people, officials said, hours after a missile launched by Houthi forces targeted central Israel.
The strikes, which Israel described as a preplanned military operation, mark an escalation in its conflict with the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis have intensified their attacks on the Red Sea corridor, disrupting global shipping routes. The group, part of Tehran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” has avoided similarly intense retaliation seen in Israeli strikes on Hamas in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Israeli military said 14 fighter jets carried out two waves of attacks. The first wave targeted infrastructure at the Houthi-controlled ports of Hodeida, Salif, and the Ras Isa oil terminal. The second wave hit energy infrastructure in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
Houthi-run broadcaster al-Masirah reported that the strikes also targeted power plants in Sanaa, worsening the city’s energy crisis. Videos showed flames engulfing a power station as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Analysts warn that Sanaa, already grappling with economic turmoil, will face further disruptions to essential services.
“Approximately one-quarter of Sanaa—shops, markets, and commercial centers—will face immediate power outages,” said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen analyst. “For a city battling a severe economic downturn, this adds to the burden.”
Al-Masirah also reported casualties in the Red Sea port region, with seven people killed in Salif and two others at the Ras Isa oil terminal.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said the strikes targeted infrastructure the Houthis were using to support their military operations. “These actions serve as a warning to anyone who threatens Israel,” Hagari said.
The strikes followed an Israeli announcement that its air force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered Israeli territory. The missile’s warhead fell on a school building in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, causing extensive damage but no injuries.
A military official said the airstrikes were a response to months of Houthi aggression, not the intercepted missile. The Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and drones toward Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict in October.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed responsibility for the missile attack, stating the group fired two “Palestine” ballistic missiles at Israel. The Houthis previously targeted Israel in July and September, prompting retaliatory strikes.
The Houthis have also attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping and raising tensions. While the group claims to target ships linked to Israel or its allies, many of the vessels have no apparent connection to the conflict.
The ongoing Yemen conflict, which has killed more than 150,000 people and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, complicates efforts to broker peace in the region. U.S. officials confirmed they were not involved in Thursday’s strikes but continue to monitor the situation.
