Israeli airstrikes struck Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday, marking the latest escalation in a series of attacks between Israel and the Houthi rebels. The strikes, which came just days after the Houthis fired a new type of missile toward Israel, reportedly targeted a power plant and a gas station, among other sites.
Footage circulating widely on social media from the aftermath of the attacks showed a scene of chaos and panic. Plumes of smoke billowed over buildings as panicked voices and screams could be heard in the background. One video captured the moment a fireball erupted between buildings, while another showed residents running and looking on with disbelief as missiles rained down on the city.
Residents who spoke to The Associated Press described the force of the blasts. Hussein Mohamed, a resident living near the presidential palace, said the sounds of the explosions were “very strong.” Another resident, Ahmed al-Mekhlafy, said his “house was rocked, and the windows were shattered.”
According to the Houthi media office, Israeli strikes hit several locations across Sanaa. While Israel did not immediately confirm responsibility for the latest attack, a Houthi security source told AFP that a municipality building was hit and that there were reports of casualties. The Israeli military later confirmed the attacks, stating they targeted Houthi “military infrastructure” in response to “repeated attacks” on Israel.
This latest round of strikes follows a Houthi missile attack on Friday, which an Israeli Air Force official said for the first time involved a cluster munition. The official described this as a “new threat” that makes interception more difficult and indicates new technology provided to the Houthis by Iran.
Houthi officials, however, have vowed that the attacks will not deter their group. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the group’s media office, stated on social media that the Houthis would not abandon their support for the people of Gaza, a commitment they have made repeatedly since the war began in October 2023.