Israel attacks Sanaa: explosions at Houthi meeting in Yemen!

Israel attacks Sanaa: explosions at Houthi meeting in Yemen!

Sanaa, Jemen - Israel's military carried out air strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa during the night. These military promotions were launched by the Israeli Air Force combat aircraft, as the army spokesman Effie Defrin announced. According to reports, there were loud explosions in the city during the attack, which may have had a meeting of high-ranking Houthi officials. According to information from the news station al-Arabiya, the attack was particularly important to the military chief of the Houthi militia, Mohammed al-Gamari. So far, the Israeli military has not commented on the concrete results of the attack, but promised to report on it.

The latest attacks of Israel are not to be considered isolated, but have been in context for a long time. Since the beginning of the Gaza War in October 2023, the Houthi rebels regularly have set off rockets and drones on Israel, which is interpreted as a statement of solidarity for Islamist Hamas. These military activities of the Houthi militia have increased intensity since mid-March 2023. Israel reacted with air strikes to Houthi goals, which also include Sanaa Airport and several ports.

background of the attacks

Another attack of Israel to Sanaa Airport occurred on December 27, 2024, at a time when a delegation around WHO boss Tedros was there. Despite the attack, Tedros and the UN representatives were unharmed. According to the Houthi militia, three people were killed in this incident and 17 injured. In addition to the International Sanaa Airport, the attacks on Huthi goals also included infrastructure in the Hudaida ports and two power plants. Israel accuses the Houthi militia to use civilian institutions for military purposes, especially for the gun smuggling from Iran.

In addition, eyewitnesses reported serious explosions in Sanaa, while the Huthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Huthi also started addressing. These attacks were not the only ones: During a Huthi rocket attack on a playground in Tel Aviv, 16 people were recently injured. The situation is tense; In the previous week, Israeli attacks in Sanaa and Hudaida already cost nine lives.

international reactions

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the air strikes are to be continued on the Huthi militia in order to cut off "this terrorist branch". This is reinforced by visual arguments in the regional context. UN General Secretary António Guterres expressed concern about the attacks and warned of a possible escalation of the conflicts in the region. The Huthi militia, which controls large parts of the Jemens, is part of the "axis of resistance" against Israel, which is led by Iran, which further heats up the geopolitical tensions.

Overall, the situation in Yemen and the conflict with Israel is characterized by complexity that results from regional power games and prepared military strategies. In view of the repeated attacks and the associated civilian and military victims, the question remains open how the situation will develop in the coming weeks.