Yemen’s Houthi rebels are “learning the hard way” about the cost of attacking Israel, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after Israeli warplanes carried out a deadly bombardment of their capital, Sanaa. The strikes resulted in at least six deaths and 86 injuries, as reported by the Houthi administration.
The Israeli military operation was a direct retaliation for a Houthi ballistic missile attack, which was found to have been armed with a cluster bomb warhead. Israel’s response was designed to be punishing, hitting a military compound containing the presidential palace, a fuel depot, and power stations.
Netanyahu’s message was unambiguous: Israel will strike any group that attacks or even plans to attack it. His warning was intended to reverberate across the Middle East, showcasing Israel’s determination to neutralize threats proactively and forcefully.
The aftermath in Sanaa included scenes of chaos and destruction, with massive explosions reported across the city. Defence Minister Israel Katz added that for every Houthi missile, the price of retribution would be multiplied, signaling a new and more punitive phase in the conflict.