Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing over Yemen’s capital city Sanaa after Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport on Wednesday night as part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, further exacerbating regional tensions.
The Times of India +9; Jerusalem Post +9; Washington Post +9, and AP News with +2 to the Times of India are reporting this development.
According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF), airstrikes launched by IDF strikes targeted the airport’s infrastructure – runways and aircraft, effectively crippling it. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that this operation, known as Golden Jewel, aimed to neutralize threats posed by Houthis after recent missile attacks on Israeli territory and would meet any aggression with decisive retaliation. The Journal, The Washington Post, Wikipedia, AP News, Ynetnews and Israel Hayom all published similar coverage as they provided by IDF forces.
Houthi militants have increased their attacks against Israel in recent weeks, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza. While many projectiles were intercepted successfully, some still caused damage or casualties requiring Israel to expand military operations beyond its borders. [Sources: Reuters and AP News].
Eyewitnesses in Sanaa reported extensive damage to Sanaa Airport and surrounding areas. Media outlets shared images and videos showing destroyed aircraft scattered across the tarmac as a result of strikes conducted against this airport and humanitarian aid flights disrupted as a result. These attacks have disrupted humanitarian aid flights as well as raised serious humanitarian concerns regarding Yemen’s worsening humanitarian crisis, according to reports by AP News, Ynetnews and The Times of India.
International reactions have been mixed; while some nations have supported Israel’s right to defend itself, others have stressed the need for restraint and the protection of civilian infrastructure and lives. The UN has encouraged all parties involved to de-escalate tensions and find diplomatic solutions as quickly as possible in order to avoid further aggravating this volatile situation.
Recent events demonstrate the intricate dynamics of the Middle East, where local conflicts often have wider regional consequences. With Israel continuing its military operations against Houthi rebels, and potential wider confrontation involving other regional actors remaining an ongoing risk, international community remains concerned that they could escalate quickly into something larger.
Yemen has already suffered for years due to years of civil conflict and humanitarian challenges; now this latest development compounds these difficulties further. Aid organizations have expressed concerns that disruptions to critical infrastructure like airports will reduce essential supplies getting through to civilian populations in need, further compounding suffering among civilians. The Jerusalem Post + 10 The Guardian +10 Its Wikipedia.
As events progress, the international community closely watches, hoping for an outcome which ensures security while protecting civilians who may become caught up in crossfire.