Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Claims Eight Lives Amid Escalating Tensions

Mon Sep 29 2025 00:43:51 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An Israeli military operation in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, targeted Houthi positions in response to ongoing drone attacks on Israel, resulting in eight fatalities and significant destruction of civilian infrastructure.

In a significant escalation of conflict, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted what it termed its most powerful airstrike in Yemen, targeting Houthi military infrastructure in response to ongoing drone attacks on Israel. The Houthi-controlled health ministry reported that eight individuals were killed and many wounded, condemning the strikes as a deliberate attack on civilian facilities. Israel's military asserts that the operation was necessary to protect its borders following multiple aerial assaults from Houthi forces. The ongoing violence is part of a larger regional tension linked to the conflict in Gaza.

The Israeli military says its air force has carried out its most powerful strike in Yemen in response to the Houthi movement's repeated drone and missile attacks on Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it targeted locations linked to the Houthis' security and intelligence services in Sanaa. According to the Houthi-run government's health ministry, the airstrike killed eight people and severely damaged civilian structures.

This escalation follows a Houthi drone attack yesterday that injured 22 individuals, prompting a stern response from Israel.

The Houthis have controlled significant parts of north-western Yemen since their uprising against the internationally recognised government a decade ago, entwining domestic conflict with the broader regional tensions ignited by the Gaza conflict.

Israeli strikes in Yemen have become a pattern in retaliation to the ongoing missile threats from the Houthis, who claim their attacks are in defense of the Palestinian cause.

Reports from Sanaa indicated substantial damage, with images showing large plumes of smoke rising after the attacks, targeting residential areas and critical infrastructure. The strikes occurred just before a scheduled address by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on state television, heightening fears of further retaliations.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz mentioned on social media that the IDF's operations were aimed at dismantling the Houthi threat to Israel, stating that more such operations are likely in the near future.

In light of the ongoing violent exchanges, concerns are mounting regarding civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which is already suffering from years of war and instability.