DUBAI – A series of intense airstrikes shook Yemen’s rebel-held capital early Thursday, shortly after a Houthi missile targeted central Israel.
It wasn’t immediately clear who launched the strikes on Sanaa, which the Houthis have held for over a decade.
American forces have carried out a series of attacks on the Houthis for almost a year in response to Houthi assaults on vessels in the Red Sea area. The U.S. military declined to provide a response when asked for comment.
Houthi-controlled media reported the strikes, but offered no immediate information on casualties nor damage.
These strikes occurred shortly after the Israeli military reported that its air force had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it could reach Israeli territory.
The Israeli military stated, “Rocket and missile sirens were triggered as a precaution against potential falling debris resulting from the interception.” Sirens went off in Tel Aviv and nearby regions, with a significant explosion being heard in the skies at that moment.
The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Israel has struck the Houthis in the past over attacks targeting Israel and in recent weeks have threatened to again attack the rebels.
The Houthis have targeted some 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023 after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel.
The Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate U.S.- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.
The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
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