Airstrikes Hit Yemen Amid Israel-Houthi Tensions

• Airstrikes were reported in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hudaydah.
• Targets included an airport, a military base in Sanaa, and a power station in Hudaydah.
• Initial reports, cited by AFP, did not confirm the number of casualties.

Houthi-controlled media accused Israel of launching the strikes, but Israel has not made any official comment. Witnesses and Houthi officials claim the attacks hit strategic locations, including an airport and military base in Sanaa and a power station in Hudaydah.

These developments come as tensions escalate. In recent days, Israel has issued strong warnings about a potential large-scale assault on the Houthis. The warnings follow missile and drone attacks by the group, which injured several people in Israel last week.

The Houthis, supported by Iran, began attacking Israel shortly after the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. The group has since launched repeated strikes, leading to intermittent Israeli counterattacks.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Defence Minister announced plans to take decisive action against the Houthis, including targeting their leadership. He described the planned operation as an effort to “strike hard” and “decapitate” the group’s command structure.

The Houthis, an armed political and religious faction, have controlled large parts of western Yemen, including Sanaa, since 2015 after toppling the internationally recognised government. Their alignment with Iran has made them a key player in the region’s geopolitical tensions.