Houthi rebels in Yemen reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday struck the rebel-controlled capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida. The attacks followed days of Houthi missile launches that triggered sirens in Israel.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting Houthi infrastructure, including Sanaa’s international airport and ports at Hodeida, Al-Salif, and Ras Qantib, along with power stations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, Assad’s regime, and others learned.” Netanyahu monitored the strikes alongside military leaders, according to his office.
The Iran-backed Houthis acknowledged the strikes via a Telegram post but provided no further details. The United States has also conducted strikes against the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations highlighted the ports as critical entry points for humanitarian aid.
Houthi missile attacks have intensified recently, including a strike over the weekend that wounded 16 people in Tel Aviv. Last week, Israeli strikes on Sanaa and Hodeida killed nine people, which Israel described as retaliation for prior Houthi actions. The Houthis have also targeted Red Sea shipping, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Overnight, an Israeli strike outside Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza killed five journalists, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military claimed the journalists were militants linked to Islamic Jihad, a smaller ally of Hamas. Israel said intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives, confirmed their affiliation.
On Thursday, the Israeli military reported the death of a 35-year-old reserve soldier in central Gaza, bringing the total number of soldiers killed in the ground offensive to 389. Meanwhile, Palestinians mourned eight civilians killed during Israeli raids in Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank. Israel stated it had targeted militants but acknowledged harm to civilians during the operation.
