Israel strikes in Yemen’s capital, targets area of presidential complex, missile bases

A security source confirmed to the ‘Post’ that Israel is carrying out airstrikes in Sanaa in response to Friday’s missile launch by the Houthis toward Israeli territory.

The Israeli air force on Sunday afternoon struck the Yemeni Houthi capital of Sanaa, as a response to Friday’s ballistic missile strike by the Houthis on Israel, the IDF confirmed after The Jerusalem Post’s initial confirmation from security sources.

The strikes, which included more than 10 aircraft flying over 2,000 kilometers for five-and-a-half hours total and dropping around 35 munitions, targeted an area near the presidential complex, the Asar and Hizaz power plants, and sites where the Houthis may keep ballistic missiles.

The IDF added that the presidential palace in the Sanaa area is located within a military site from which Houthi forces operate.

The Hizaz and Asar power plants, which were also struck, served as a significant electricity supply facility for Houthi activities, the military said.

A security source has confirmed that Israel is carrying out airstrikes in Sanaa in response to Friday’s missile launch by the Houthis toward Israeli territory.

Shortly after the Post received confirmation as an on background statement, the Defense Ministry put out a photo of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Air Force Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler is managing the attack from Air Force Headquarters.

Israeli counterattacks sought to halt Houthi economy, ability to resupply weapons

In the past, most Israeli counterattacks have been against the Yemeni Houthi port city of Hodeidah in order to grind their economy and ability to resupply weapons to a halt.

However, the IDF has also struck before in Sanaa, especially multiple times at the country’s international airport there.

Some of the sites being hit are expected to widen the extent of electricity shortages in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

If the sites being hit are new sites that will more significantly harm the Houthis’ ballistic missile capabilities, this would be one of the first achievements of a new emphasis on wider intelligence collection within Yemen.

The Post has learned that there is a strong push by Israeli intelligence to better understand ways to reduce the Houthi threat, but also that Israeli intelligence is playing catch-up after mostly ignoring Yemen until this war, or even deep into the war when it became apparent that US pressure would not stop Houthi attacks on Israel.

Reuters contributed to this report. This is a developing story.