SANAA, Yemen: At least nine people were killed on Wednesday when Israeli air strikes hit Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and al-Jawf governorate, a day after targeting Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Yemen’s Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that 118 people were injured in Israeli “aggression” on Sanaa and al-Jawf. The ministry described the figures as a preliminary toll, warning the number could rise as rescue teams continue to search for victims.
The ministry said the raids struck civilian and residential areas, including homes in Sanaa’s al-Tahrir neighbourhood, a medical facility on 60th Street in the southwest of the city, and a government compound in al-Jawf’s capital, al-Hazm.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying it struck sites in Sanaa and al-Jawf in Yemen.
“A short while ago, the IAF [Israeli Air Force] struck military targets belonging to the Houthi regime in the areas of Sanaa and Al-Jawf in Yemen,” a military statement said.
The statement added that the targets included military camps, the Houthis’ military public relations headquarters, and a fuel storage facility that was used by the Yemeni group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that this attack was in response to a Houthi drone strike on Ramon Airport in Israel a few days ago.
“This [attack] did not weaken our hand – we struck them again from the air today”, he said in a post on X.
“We will continue to strike. Anyone who strikes us, anyone who attacks us – we will reach them,” he threatened.
Raid on medical facility
According to Yemen’s Al Masirah TV, Israeli raids targeted a medical facility for the health sector in southwest Sanaa and the local government compound in al-Hazm.
“Martyrs, wounded, and several homes damaged as a result of the Israeli attack on the Moral Guidance Headquarters,” Al Masirah TV posted on Telegram on Wednesday, adding that the attack resulted in casualties.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said that the group used surface-to-air missiles against the Israeli incursion, saying that some Israeli planes were turned back before they were able to discharge their weapons.
“Our air defences were able to launch a number of surface-to-air missiles while confronting the Zionist aggression against our country,” the group said via Telegram.
“Some combat formations were forced to leave before carrying out their aggression, and the bulk of the attack was thwarted, thanks be to God.”
Israel has repeatedly bombed Yemen, including its main airport, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure in the country.
Saree accused Israel of trying to pressure the Yemeni group to abandon their support for Gaza, but pledged operations against Israel would continue until its “genocidal war” on Gaza halts.
The group has imposed a maritime blockade on Israeli-linked ships passing through the Red Sea and has carried out air attacks against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Houthis have said that they would stop attacking Israel when a ceasefire is agreed in Gaza, which has been turned to ruins by 23 months of relentless Israeli bombardment.
More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched the ongoing bombardment campaign in October 2023.
Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. It has also cracked down on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, displacing thousands of them from their homes.
On Tuesday, Israel bombed a residential building housing Hamas leaders as they were meeting to discuss the latest Gaza ceasefire proposals from US President Donald Trump.
At least six people were killed in the attack, but Hamas said its top leadership survived the assassination attempt.
