Civilians and Infrastructure Targeted
Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes against Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on September 10, 2025, targeting the Houthi-run defense ministry and surrounding residential neighborhoods . The attacks killed at least nine civilians and wounded 118 others, with casualties expected to rise as rescue teams search for survivors under rubble . Al Masirah TV, a Yemeni media outlet, reported that strikes hit a medical facility on Sanaa’s 60th Street and a government compound in al-Jawf province, damaging homes and critical infrastructure . Witnesses described explosions in the al-Tahrir neighborhood, where civilian residences sustained significant damage, and fires broke out at a fuel station serving hospitals, exacerbating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
Houthi Response
The strikes followed a Houthi drone attack on Israel’s Ramon Airport on September 7, which caused minor damage and lightly wounded one person. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated the group used surface-to-air missiles to repel Israeli jets, forcing some to retreat without completing their missions. Supreme Political Council leader Mahdi al-Mashat vowed to continue operations against Israel, declaring, "Response is coming without fail". The Houthis maintain their actions are solely in solidarity with Gaza, demanding an end to Israel’s genocide as a condition for ceasing attacks.
The Escalation
Israel’s strikes are part of a broader escalation since May 2025, when it began directly targeting Houthi leadership and infrastructure . On August 28, 2025, Israel killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and 11 other ministers in a decapitation strike dubbed "Operation Lucky Drop". The Houthis have consistently framed their Red Sea naval blockade and missile attacks as legitimate resistance against Israeli oppression, noting that 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Despite Israeli claims of targeting military sites, independent reports confirm strikes on civilian hubs, including ports, power plants, and water facilities.
Yemen's Humanitarian Catastrophe and International Complicity
Yemen, already grappling with a decade of Saudi-led coalition bombings and blockade, faces intensified suffering due to Israeli attacks. The UN estimates 276 civilians have been killed in Yemen since the Red Sea crisis began in October 2023. The targeting of medical stations and fuel supplies violates international humanitarian law, yet Western media largely overlooks these violations while amplifying Israeli narratives. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposed sanctions against Israel highlight growing global frustration, but fall short of addressing root causes: Israel’s occupation and U.S.-backed aggression.