Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen's capital Sanaa on Sunday, killing six people and injuring 86 others in one of the most significant escalations of cross-border hostilities this year. The attacks, confirmed by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, struck key government and energy infrastructure, including the presidential palace and state oil facilities, according to residents and Houthi authorities.
The Houthi-run al-Masirah television reported that warplanes hit multiple military and administrative sites across central and southern Sanaa. A health official affiliated with the group stated on social media that casualties included civilians caught in the blast radius.
This retaliation follows a Houthi-launched hypersonic ballistic missile attack on Tel Aviv two days prior, which caused property damage but no fatalities. The Iran-aligned movement has conducted over 50 attacks on Israeli targets since November 2023, citing opposition to Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Analysts note the strikes mark a geographic expansion of Israel's countermeasures against Houthi capabilities, targeting fuel depots and power stations critical to the group's operations. The conflict risks further destabilizing regional shipping lanes and energy markets, with Brent crude prices rising 1.8% in early Asian trading.
As both sides vow continued military action, humanitarian organizations warn of worsening conditions in Yemen, where 21.6 million people require assistance amid ongoing civil war and economic collapse.
