Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa killed six people and wounded at least 86 others on Sunday, a Houthi health official confirmed. The strikes were launched in response to missiles fired from Yemen towards Israel, escalating more than a year of direct attacks between Israel and Houthi militants.
According to the Israeli military, targets included a military compound housing the presidential palace, two power plants, and a fuel storage site. The army said the operation came after repeated Houthi attacks against Israel, including the recent launch of surface-to-surface missiles and drones.
A fire ball rises from the site of an Israeli air strike in Sanaa, Yemen August 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
On Friday, Houthi forces announced they had fired a ballistic missile at Israel in what they described as support for Palestinians in Gaza. An Israeli Air Force official said the missile likely carried sub-munitions designed to detonate upon impact, marking the first time such a weapon was launched from Yemen.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles toward Israel and attacked vessels in the Red Sea since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023. While most of the missiles have been intercepted, Israel has carried out multiple retaliatory strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including the strategic port of Hodeidah.
Smoke billows from the site of Israeli air strikes in Sanaa, Yemen, August 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
Abdul Qader al-Murtada, a senior Houthi official, vowed that the group would continue its operations in solidarity with Palestinians. “(Israel) must know that we will not abandon our brothers in Gaza, whatever the sacrifices,” he said on X.
