Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a severe warning to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, declaring they are paying “a very heavy price” for their aggression against Israel. This statement followed a series of powerful airstrikes conducted by the Israeli Air Force on targets within the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, signaling a significant escalation in retaliatory measures.
The strikes were a direct response to a recent ballistic missile attack launched from Yemen, which for the first time utilized a cluster bomb warhead against Israel. Netanyahu, emphasizing his country’s resolve, stated, “Whoever attacks us, we will attack him. Whoever plans to attack us, we attack him.” He asserted that Israel’s strength and determination are becoming clear to the entire region.
The Israeli military operation targeted high-value sites in Sanaa, including a military compound containing the presidential palace, a crucial fuel depot, and two power stations. Defence Minister Israel Katz boldly claimed that the IDF had “destroyed the Houthi presidential palace,” a statement that has not been independently confirmed by sources within Yemen.
The aftermath in Sanaa was grim, with Houthi officials reporting at least six fatalities and 86 injuries, many of them critical. Visuals from the city showed massive fireballs erupting into the night sky, followed by thick columns of smoke, underscoring the intensity of the Israeli bombardment on the Yemeni capital.