Sanaa (Yemen), Sep 11: At least 35 people were killed and over 130 injured on Wednesday after Israel launched a fresh wave of heavy airstrikes in Yemen, Houthi officials said. The attacks came just days after Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone strike that hit an Israeli airport.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, most casualties occurred in the capital city of Sanaa, where a military headquarters and a fuel station were among the sites targeted. Rescue teams continued to dig through rubble late into the night, with fears the death toll could rise further.
Al-Masirah, a Houthi-controlled satellite TV channel, reported that a military headquarters in central Sanaa was directly hit, damaging nearby residential homes as well.
EU Pushes for Sanctions Against Israel
The strikes coincided with mounting international pressure on Israel. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would push for sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel, citing its escalating war in Gaza. The move signals a deepening global rift, coming just a day after Israel’s controversial strike targeting Hamas leaders in US-allied Qatar.
Israel-Houthi Tensions on the Rise
This is not the first time Israel has struck Yemen. In recent months, it has launched repeated air raids in response to Houthi missile and drone attacks. The Iran-backed Houthis have positioned themselves as allies of Hamas, claiming their operations are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
On Sunday, the Houthis managed to breach Israel’s multilayered air defense system with a drone that slammed into a southern airport—an incident that triggered Wednesday’s retaliation.
Escalation in Gaza
Meanwhile, Israel reiterated its call for roughly one million Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City, as it intensifies its offensive against what it describes as Hamas’ last major stronghold. The Israeli military warned it would soon accelerate targeted strikes near the city as part of the next phase of its operation.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in Gaza City, unwilling or unable to move south to overcrowded tent camps that Israel has designated as “safe zones” but continues to strike, claiming militant presence. Already battered by famine and repeated bombardments, residents say they lack the resources or strength to relocate once again.
With simultaneous campaigns unfolding in Gaza and Yemen, Israel now faces deepening military entanglements and growing international isolation, even as the humanitarian crisis in the region worsens.
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