Media reports suggest that Israeli airstrikes hit key Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport, on Thursday. Three fatalities and 16 injuries have been reported, with further casualties from strikes in other regions.
BREAKING:
Israeli airstrikes are hitting targets across the Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen.
– The airport in the capital city Sanaa hit
– Airstrikes hit the Port of Hodeidah
– Power station near Sanaa destroyed pic.twitter.com/7Atj3dzVBI— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 26, 2024
The strikes reportedly occurred while World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and senior U.N. officials were at the airport.
The runway, control tower, and parked aircraft at Sanaa International Airport were all struck. Houthi-run media reported that two airport workers were killed, and the injuries included the assistant to the U.N. plane captain.
WATCH⚡️
Sanaa airport after IDF gave them a visit from 2000 km away.
It looks like a warning shot. pic.twitter.com/7WQ5B5W19W
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 26, 2024
Panic at Sana’a International Airport after Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi targets there pic.twitter.com/zmnnQx0ec3
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 26, 2024
According to reports, in addition to the control tower, a Houthi F-5 fighter jet displayed during a military parade in 2023 may also have been a target of the strike.
According to Al Hadath, the Primary Target of the Strikes on Sana’a International Airport in Yemen was the Control Tower and also may have been the Houthi’s F-5 fighter jet shown during a military parade last year (attached image). While the Houthis do operate a number of… pic.twitter.com/KHxp2f0Wub
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 26, 2024
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed targeting “military infrastructure” associated with the Houthis, including power stations and port facilities in Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib.
The IDF characterized the operation as part of its efforts to “cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes are part of a broader campaign against Iranian-backed groups, vowing to escalate if necessary.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, present at the airport during the attack, reported that one crew member of his plane was injured. He and other U.N. officials were in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained U.N. staff.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the group’s supreme revolutionary committee, denounced the airstrikes as “barbaric” and vowed continued confrontation with Israel. Iran, a key supporter of the Houthis, described the attack as a “clear violation of international peace and security.”
The strikes follow a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, including an incident last week that injured over a dozen people. In response, Israeli officials have intensified military actions against Houthi positions in Yemen. Earlier this week, Israel’s defense minister warned of plans to “decapitate” Houthi leadership if their attacks persisted.
