Israel Airstrikes Disable Yemen's Sanaa Airport, Target Power Plants

Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, fully disabling Sanaa International Airport and striking several power plants in retaliation for a Houthi missile attack on Israel’s main airport. The strikes, which also targeted a cement factory and infrastructure used by the Houthis for military purposes, were accompanied by advance warnings urging civilians to evacuate the airport area. The Israeli military described the airport as a hub for transferring weapons and operatives, regularly used for terror activities by the Houthis. Houthi sources confirmed the strikes, reporting black plumes of smoke and significant damage, while the Houthi-run Health Ministry cited casualties from earlier strikes on Hodeida province. The recent escalation follows the first missile strike to hit the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport since October 2023, which briefly halted flights and injured several people. Israel characterized the attacks on the airport and infrastructure as a blow to the Houthis’ military and economic capabilities.