Sanaa — Yemen’s Houthi movement has promised retaliation following a series of Israeli airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, that targeted the main international airport, a cement factory, and several power stations. The strikes, carried out on Tuesday, killed at least three people and wounded 35 others, according to Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV.
The Israeli military claimed the Sanaa airport had been “fully disabled,” alleging it was a hub for arms transfers and operations by what it called the “Houthi terrorist regime.” The attacks, Israel said, were in response to a ballistic missile strike near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday.
In a strongly worded statement, the Houthi political bureau condemned the attacks, labeling them “evidence of Israel’s bankruptcy” and a deliberate attempt to blockade Yemen. “Targeting Yemeni ports, Sanaa airport, cement factories, and power plants aims to impose a blockade on the Yemeni people,” the group said, adding that Israeli and U.S. strikes “will not deter Yemen from continuing its support for Gaza.”
Houthi officials also reported that six strikes targeted the Hodeidah port less than 24 hours prior, killing one and wounding 35. Additional attacks hit a cement factory in Bajil and a power station in the Bani al-Harith area of Sanaa.
International observers have raised concerns about the humanitarian implications. Sultan Barakat, a professor at Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, criticized the strike on Sanaa’s airport, calling it “pure vandalism.” He emphasized that the airport operates under heavy international restrictions and plays a vital role in humanitarian aid efforts.
The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that the targeted sites are linked to Houthi military infrastructure and used for constructing tunnels. It pledged to “continue to act and strike with force” any entity it perceives as a threat.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have intensified attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, in what they claim is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. While operations were briefly paused during a ceasefire, they resumed after Israel restricted aid to Gaza and renewed its military campaign in March.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has also stepped up airstrikes in Yemen since March 15, deepening the conflict in a country already devastated by years of war.