Israeli military confirms airstrikes on Yemeni capital Sanaa that included the military compound where the presidential palace is located.
The airstrikes happened just days after the Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel, the rebels said, as per an AP report.
"Multiple military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in Sanaa, Yemen, including a military site in which the presidency palace is located, the Adar and Hizaz power plants, and a site for storing fuel—all used for the military activity of the Houthi regime. These strikes were carried out in response to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel with missiles and UAVs. The Houthis, backed by Iran, continue to exploit civilian infrastructure for terror purposes," mentioned a tweet by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on X.
The airstrikes hit multiple locations across the capital, including a power plant and a gas station. Loud sounds of explosions were heard by the residents. Smoke plumes near a central gathering place in the capital were also observed.
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for more than 22 months, AP reported.
An Israeli Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations to AP, said the kind of projectile fired from Yemen towards Israel on Friday night was a new threat.
According to the official, the missile was a cluster munition, a projectile that is supposed to detonate into multiple explosives.