Cairo (AP) – Israeli airstrikes struck Yemen’s capital on Sunday, Houthi rebels fired missiles at Israel The military described it as the first cluster bomb by rebels since 2023.
Iran-backed Houtis said the strikes had collided with multiple areas across Sanaa. The Houthi-run Ministry of Health said at least two people have been killed and 35 have been injured.
Rebel Al Masiler’s satellite television reported a strike against the oil company, with social media videos showing fireballs erupting there.
The Israeli military, along with the military location of the Presidential Palace, has been called “an important power supply facility for military operations,” and has attacked the Asar and Hizaz power plants.
Sanaa residents told The Associated Press that they had heard of a major explosion near the closed military academy and the presidential palace. They said that smoke feathers can be seen near Sabeen Square, the capital’s central meeting place.
“The sound of the explosion was very strong,” said Hussein Mohamed, who lives near the presidential palace.
Ahmed al-Mekrafi said he felt the pure power of the strike. “The house was shaking and the windows were shattered,” he told the Associated Press over the phone.
Houthis says it has launched missiles and drones at Israel, targeting targeted Red Sea ships for more than 22 months, and is attacking in solidarity with the Palestinians. The War in Gaza.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy director of the Houthi Media Office, has vowed to continue attacks on Israel, claiming that the latest airstrikes will not thwart rebels.
“Our military operations in support of Gaza will not be happy to stop unless the attacks stop and the siege is lifted,” he wrote on social media.
The Israeli strike was the first to strike Yemen a week ago, saying it targeted the energy infrastructure that Israel believed was being used by rebels.
The latest strike follows Houthis’ claim to launch a newly equipped missile at Israel on Friday. There were no reported damages or injuries. Israeli forces said they were fragmented into the air after several intercept attempts.
Israeli Air Force officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations, called projectiles fired on Friday, and were called a new threat. It was cluster ammunition, he said, but intended to explode into multiple explosives on impact.
Using cluster bombs makes Israel’s intercepting more difficult, representing the additional technology that Iran offers to Houthis.
Officials said more than 10 Israeli fighter jets took the strike on Sunday.
Houthi attacks over the past two years have fallen Shipping in the Red Seaand through this, around $1 trillion in goods pass through each year.
From November 2023 to December 2024, Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. The rebels stopped their attack during a short ceasefire in Gaza and later A few weeks of air strike campaign Ordered by US President Donald Trump.
In May, the US announced a Deal with Houthis and end the airstrike In exchange for the end of the shipment attack, the rebels said the agreement did not include a halt of attacks on targets that were thought to be in line with Israel.
In May, Israeli airstrikes crashed into Sanaa Airport in a rare daytime attack that destroyed the terminal and left a crater on the runway. At least six passenger seats were attacked, including three belonging to Yemenia Airlines.
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Ridman reported from Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, Israel and the Mets. Associated Press Writer Jon Gambrell from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.