Israel launches fresh strikes on Yemen's capital, targets senior Houthi officials

SANAA/JERUSALEM -- Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa on Thursday afternoon, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported, as Israeli media said the airstrikes targeted senior Houthi officials.

Local residents said they heard warplanes and saw around 10 huge explosions south of Sanaa, including the Attan Mountain, the Al-Sabeen Square, and the Central Security Camp.

The Houthi group has yet to reveal the targeted sites or casualties.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its air force struck a Houthi "military target" in Sanaa, without mentioning the outcome of the attack.

Israeli's state-owned Army Radio said "a large number of senior Houthi officials" had gathered at several locations in Sanaa, and "all were struck simultaneously within minutes."

Without disclosing their identity, it said the Houthi officials had apparently gathered to watch a televised speech by the group's leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The airstrikes came a few hours after the Israeli military said it had intercepted two drones fired from Yemen.

The first drone entered Israeli airspace at noon, triggered air raid sirens, and was then intercepted by Israeli air force over communities near Gaza, while the second one, fired less than two hours later, was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, the military said in a statement.

No human casualties or material damage have been reported from the two drone attacks. There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group regarding the incidents.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have carried out drone and missile attacks on Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as showing solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted by Israel.

Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-held areas, targeting airports, power stations, and ports in Yemen's capital Sanaa and the city of Hodeidah.