Nine people have reportedly lost their lives following Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital and a port city, marking an escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The strikes, which took place early Thursday, were launched after Israel intercepted a missile fired by Houthi fighters, according to media controlled by the Houthis.
In a statement, Israel’s military said the airstrikes targeted “military sites” linked to Houthi forces. “The targets attacked are used by the Houthi forces for their military operations,” the statement read.
Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported that seven individuals were killed at Salif port, while two others lost their lives at the Ras Issa oil facility in Hodeidah province. The outlet claimed, “The enemy launched four aggressive raids targeting the port … and two raids targeting an oil facility.”
Yemen’s state-run SABA news agency corroborated the report, adding that employees at the Ras Issa oil facility were among those killed in the strikes.
Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, confirmed that the airstrikes also hit ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa. He stated that the actions were a response to missile launches by the Houthis.
Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a pro-Houthi commentator, told Al Jazeera that Israel had conducted approximately 13 airstrikes on Thursday. He described the attacks as retaliation for Yemen’s regular assaults on Israeli targets and Red Sea shipping routes associated with Israel.
“These strikes are Israel’s response to Yemen’s weekly attacks, which either target Israel directly or disrupt shipping aiding the Zionist state in the Red Sea,” al-Bukhaiti explained.
Despite the civilian casualties in Yemen, al-Bukhaiti stressed that the Houthi movement’s solidarity campaign with Palestinians would continue. “Yemen has made it clear that it will not cease these attacks unless the Israeli regime halts its assaults on Gaza, lifts the blockade, and withdraws from the territory,” he added.
The ongoing conflict highlights the increasing complexity of regional tensions and the rising civilian toll in Yemen.
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