Israeli forces conducted airstrikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Thursday, marking the second attack on the Iranian-backed rebels in less than a week.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the operation targeted what it described as a Houthi “military target” without providing additional details. The strikes hit densely populated neighborhoods in Sanaa, including areas on the city’s western side, according to both Houthi and Israeli military sources. No immediate casualties were reported.
The Tehran Times posted a video of the strike, though the footage could not be independently verified by SOFX.
Video captured the moment Israel carried out an attack on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. pic.twitter.com/9zmwFL7Jmq
— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) August 28, 2025
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning following the attack: “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: ‘After the plague of darkness comes the plague of death.’ Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off.”
כפי שהזהרנו את החות’ים בתימן: אחרי מכת החושך באה מכת בכורות.
מי שירים יד על ישראל – ידו תיגדע. pic.twitter.com/beIG6LiQpC
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 28, 2025
According to the Times of Israel, citing unnamed sources, Israeli intelligence identified a gathering of 10 Houthi ministers and senior officials outside Sanaa who had assembled to hear a speech by group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. The gathering reportedly included the Houthis’ defense minister.
The operation reportedly occurred during al-Houthi’s ongoing speech, but continued without interruption according to YNet.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Thursday’s airstrikes likely eliminated Houthi Defense Minister Muhammad al-Atifi and Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Ghamari, though this remains unconfirmed.
Thursday’s attack followed Israel’s interception of two drones launched from Yemen earlier in the day. The Israeli military said it had intercepted three such drone attacks from the rebels within the past week.
The latest strikes came four days after Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa killed at least 10 people on Sunday. Those operations targeted a military installation near the presidential palace, a power plant, and an oil facility under Houthi control.
The Israeli Air Force sent a message to the Houthis in Yemen today pic.twitter.com/VYrT4ibgLC
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) August 24, 2025
The Houthis have maintained their campaign of missile and drone attacks against Israel throughout the ongoing war in Gaza, stating their operations demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians.
The IDF characterized the Houthis as operating under Iranian direction to harm Israel and its allies, blaming the group for “undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation.”
Despite previous Israeli strikes described in similar terms, Houthi drone and missile attacks have continued throughout the conflict. The Trump administration announced an agreement with the Houthis in May to halt airstrikes in exchange for ending attacks on Red Sea shipping.
However, the rebels said the deal did not include stopping operations against targets they considered aligned with Israel.
