Israeli Airstrike Targets Houthi Leadership in Yemen's Capital

Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on Thursday in Sanaa, Yemen, targeting a gathering of senior Houthi officials. The Israeli military confirmed the operation, stating it struck a "military target" associated with the Houthi regime.

According to reports, Israeli intelligence identified a meeting of 10 Houthi ministers, including the defense minister and other senior figures, convening near the capital. The airstrike was launched to target this assembly.

Residents in Sanaa reported that the strikes hit areas near the presidential complex and a building in the southern part of the city. The immediate outcome of the strike, including potential casualties among Houthi leadership, remains unclear.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, "As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the firstborn," referencing the Biblical Ten Plagues of Egypt.

The Israeli military accused the Houthis of aggressive actions since the onset of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, aiming to harm Israel and its allies, destabilize the regional order, and disrupt global maritime freedom.

This operation marks the 16th Israeli strike against Houthi targets in Yemen, approximately 1,800 kilometers from Israel. The Houthis have been launching missiles and drones toward Israel and targeting ships in the Red Sea, actions they claim are in solidarity with Palestinians.

In response to these attacks, Israel and a U.S.-led coalition have conducted sustained strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including Sanaa and the strategic coastal city of Hodeida.

The Houthis have maintained that Israeli attacks on Yemen will not deter their military operations in support of Palestinians.