The death toll rose to six from Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, with 86 others wounded, the Houthi-run health ministry said on Monday.
Seven children and three women are among the injured, and 21 are in critical condition, according to the ministry. Houthi officials told Xinhua on Sunday night that the toll could rise, as several of the wounded remain in critical condition.
The strikes, carried out Sunday afternoon, targeted fuel and power stations, the presidential palace complex, and other civilian facilities, according to the Houthis. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a statement that an air strike was conducted in Yemen.
The military claimed that the sites included the presidential palace, the Asar and Hizaz power plants, and a fuel storage facility, which they said were used for military purposes. Israeli state-owned Kan TV reported that 14 warplanes took part in the attack, dropping approximately 40 bombs in the area.
In a statement released on Sunday evening, the Houthis accused Israel of “brutal aggression” against civilian facilities. They held both Israel and the United States responsible for what they called a “heinous crime.”
The Houthis vowed to strike back in retaliation.
The strikes occurred two days after the Houthis launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, damaging homes with shrapnel but resulting in no fatalities.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and Hodeidah port, have launched repeated attacks on Israel since November 2023 to support Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas.
