Sanaa, Yemen –– Israeli air strikes conducted in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and the al-Jawf governorate have resulted in at least nine deaths and 118 injuries, according to a preliminary statement from Yemen’s Ministry of Health. The attacks, which struck a day after an Israeli operation in Doha, Qatar, targeted a range of sites, including residential areas and medical facilities.
According to Yemeni officials, the raids hit civilian and residential buildings, including homes in Sanaa’s al-Tahrir neighbourhood, a medical facility on 60th Street, and a government compound in al-Jawf’s capital, al-Hazm. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV and the Yemen Oil and Gas Corporation confirmed the targeting of medical and fuel storage sites, stating that civil defence teams are actively working to extinguish fires and rescue victims from the rubble. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group’s air defences engaged the Israeli incursion with surface-to-air missiles, claiming to have thwarted the majority of the attack and forcing some Israeli planes to turn back.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the strikes, identifying the targets as “military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime.” The military’s statement specified that the sites included “military camps in which operatives of the terrorist regime were identified, the Houthis’ military public relations headquarters and a fuel storage facility.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the attack, stating it was a response to a prior Houthi drone strike on Ramon Airport in Israel. He pledged to continue striking those who attack Israel. This recent series of attacks comes as part of a continued pattern of Israeli operations against Yemen, which have included prior bombings on the country’s main airport and an attack last month that killed top Yemeni officials.
The attacks come amid a broader regional conflict. Just yesterday, Tuesday, September 9, Israel bombed a residential building in Doha, Qatar, that was housing Hamas leaders who were meeting to discuss a ceasefire proposal. While Hamas said its top leadership survived the assassination attempt, at least six people were reportedly killed in that strike. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree accused Israel of attempting to pressure the group into abandoning its support for Gaza and reaffirmed the group’s commitment to continuing operations against Israel until a ceasefire is reached. The Houthis have imposed a maritime blockade on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and have carried out air attacks against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.
The full extent of the damage and the final casualty count remain unclear as rescue efforts are ongoing.
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