Yemen's Houthi rebels say dozens killed in Israeli strikes

Israeli air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen killed dozens of people and injured more than 100 on Wednesday, the rebels' Health Ministry said.

The casualties numbered 35 dead and 131 injured as of Wednesday evening, Health Ministry spokesman Dr Anees Alasbahi said on X. He said civil defence, ambulance and rescue teams were still searching for missing persons,"

The Israeli army said its air force struck Houthi military targets in the capital Sanaa and Al Jawf governorate. These included military camps in which operatives of the group were identified, the Houthis' military public relations headquarters and a fuel storage site that was used by them, it said.

The army said the military camps included operations and intelligence rooms and enabled the Houthis to plan and execute attacks against Israel.

Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree said the strikes were directed at purely civilian targets, including the newspapers 26 September and Al Yaman, and killed journalists as well as bystanders.

The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported “martyrs, wounded, and several homes damaged as a result of the Israeli attack on the Moral Guidance Headquarters”. Houthi media warned Yemenis could face legal trouble if they

Al Masirah TV quoted a Yemen Oil Company representative as saying the strikes also targeted the health sector's medical station on Al Siteen Street, south-west of Sanaa, and the government complex in Al Hazm district of Al Jawf governorate.

Brig Gen Saree said Houthi air defences countered some of the Israeli strikes.

“Our air defences were able to launch a number of surface-to-air missiles while confronting the [Israeli] aggression against our country. Some combat formations were forced to leave before carrying out their aggression, and the bulk of the attack was thwarted," he said. He said the attacks would not go unpunished.

The Houthis have increased their aerial attacks on Israel in recent months, using warheads with cluster munitions that scatter smaller bomblets over a large area and can evade Israeli air defences.

Saying that they were acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, the Houthis began firing missiles and drones at Israel after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel led to a devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

The Israeli army said Wednesday's strikes were conducted in response to attacks by the Houthis against Israel, including launching drones and surface-to-surface missiles towards Israeli territory.

On Sunday, a Houthi drone breached Israeli air defences and shut down the southern Ramon Airport.

Two people were injured as shrapnel fell at the airport near the southern city of Eilat. Israel closed its airspace in the area before the military allowed flights to resume on Sunday evening.