Sanaa, Yemen – In a deadly escalation of regional tensions, Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, resulting in four fatalities and 67 injuries, according to the Houthi Ministry of Health. The strikes, carried out by dozens of Israeli jets, focused on areas near the presidential complex, fuel depots, and power stations, causing widespread destruction and panic among residents.
Israeli military officials confirmed that the air campaign hit a military compound near the presidential palace, two power plants, and a fuel depot. The strikes, they claimed, were in response to repeated missile attacks from Houthi forces targeting Israel and its civilians.
Eyewitnesses reported that the explosions shook residential neighborhoods, shattering windows and triggering fires in nearby buildings. Emergency services rushed to the scene to evacuate victims and contain the fires, while local hospitals reported being overwhelmed with injured civilians.
This latest escalation follows a missile attack launched from Yemen toward Israel just two days ago, which Israel says it successfully intercepted. The retaliatory airstrikes have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with humanitarian organizations warning of worsening conditions for civilians already affected by years of war in Yemen.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the rising violence, urging restraint and calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further civilian casualties. Humanitarian groups emphasized the urgent need for aid access to hospitals and relief centers, many of which have been struggling due to ongoing conflict and infrastructure damage.
Residents of Sanaa described a city gripped by fear, with families fleeing their homes and seeking shelter in safer areas. Social media footage showed damaged buildings, smoke rising from the targeted sites, and chaotic scenes at hospitals overwhelmed with patients.
Analysts warn that these developments could further destabilize Yemen, already embroiled in a protracted civil conflict, and complicate ongoing peace efforts. The strikes underscore the fragile security situation in the region and the potential for rapid escalation if retaliatory actions continue.
The Houthi authorities vowed to respond to Israel’s attacks, raising concerns of a renewed cycle of violence. Meanwhile, international observers are closely monitoring the situation, calling for urgent humanitarian assistance and diplomatic intervention to protect civilians.
