What's New
Israeli airstrikes hit the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida in Yemen on Thursday.
The World Health Organization's director-general reported that the strikes took place as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, injuring a crew member in the process.
Why It Matters
The airstrikes came after days of Houthi-launched attacks triggered sirens across Israel.
According to the Israeli military, the operation targeted Houthi infrastructure, including Sanaa's international airport, the ports of Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, as well as several power stations. The military did not immediately address questions regarding the statement by World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
What To Know
The strikes followed recent comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas, Hezbollah, Assad's regime, and others learned."
According to his government, Netanyahu oversaw the Yemen operation alongside military leaders.
The Iran-backed Houthis acknowledged the airstrikes in a statement shared on their official Telegram channel but did not provide further details. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has also conducted recent operations targeting the Houthis in Yemen.
Over the weekend, a Houthi missile struck a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people. In response to earlier Houthi attacks, Israeli jets launched strikes on Sanaa and Hodeida last week, killing nine individuals. The Houthis have also targeted shipping in the Red Sea corridor, framing the assaults as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Fighting In Gaza
Israel's conflict with Hamas and the Houthis began with a Hamas-led incursion across the border on October 7, 2023. The assault killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in the abduction of around 250 individuals. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third presumed dead.
Israel's air and ground offensive has resulted in more than 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which reports that over half of the casualties are women and children. The ministry has not specified how many of the deceased were combatants. Meanwhile, Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to support the figure.
What People Are Saying
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged."
"We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," the post added.
What's Next
It is currently unclear if WHO will speak out against Israel's strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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