Deadly Airstrike in Yemen: Eight Lives Lost
In a recent military action, the air force of a Middle Eastern nation has launched what it labels as its "most potent attack" on Yemen. This act of aggression was in reaction to the continuous drone and missile assaults by the Houthi group on the attacking nation.
The nation's armed forces reported that numerous aircraft were used in the offensive, concentrating on Houthi-held locations. These included security and intelligence services, and military bases in the capital, Sanaa.
Government's Reaction
The health ministry, under Houthi control, condemned the attack as a "harsh crime", claiming that civilian structures and residences were targeted and resulting in the death of eight people.
The assault occurred just a day after a drone attack, carried out by the Houthis, at a seaside resort in the Red Sea, which resulted in injuries to 22 individuals, two of whom are critically injured.
Background of Conflict
The Houthis have been in control of much of northwestern Yemen for the past decade after they removed the globally acknowledged government, igniting a civil war. They started attacking the Middle Eastern nation and global shipping routes in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden shortly after the war between the Middle Eastern nation and a group in Gaza started in October 2023, asserting they were supporting the Palestinians.
The Middle Eastern nation has conducted several rounds of airstrikes in Yemen in response to the countless missiles and drones launched by the Houthis.
Aftermath of the Strike
Footage from Sanaa showed huge clouds of black smoke emanating from at least three locations in the city following the airstrikes. The assault took place just before a Houthi-controlled television station started broadcasting a speech by the Houthi leader.
The TV station reported that the strikes targeted residential areas and a power station. Images showed several demolished and damaged buildings.
The health ministry's spokesman accused the attacking nation's armed forces of the "purposeful and systematic targeting of civilian, service, and residential facilities", which he labelled as "a war crime". He reported that eight people were killed and 142 injured, including civilians. He added that rescue workers were still looking for survivors in the rubble.
Responses
The Middle Eastern nation's Minister of Defense stated that his country had "delivered a potent strike on numerous terror targets of the Houthi terror organization in Sanaa".
The armed forces released a statement that the targets included Houthi military headquarters, security and intelligence compounds, PR headquarters, and military camps used for weapon storage. The statement also mentioned the nation's intent to carry out additional offensive operations against the Houthi regime in the near future.
A separate statement from the military stated that an inquiry into the recent Houthi attack had suggested that the drone launched from Yemen was "detected relatively late, and that warning sirens were activated in accordance with protocol. Attempts were made to intercept it using air defense systems, but were unsuccessful. The cause for that has been identified, and corrective measures were implemented."
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, the Middle Eastern nation's forces have intercepted more than 98% of the drones launched towards them by the Houthis, as per the armed forces.
Houthi's Response
The Houthis' military spokesman said the attack was a "response to the crimes of genocide and the dangerous escalation carried out by the enemy against our people in the Gaza Strip".
In September, four days after a Houthi drone attack injured one person, the Middle Eastern nation carried out a series of strikes that killed 35 people, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.
An organization dedicated to protecting journalists reported last week that 31 journalists and media support workers were among those killed, making it the deadliest single attack on the press worldwide in 16 years.
It was reported that all but one of them had worked in the office of a newspaper or the headquarters of the government's Moral Guidance Directorate, which were both bombed. The armed forces stated at the time that it had targeted the "Houthi Public Relations Department".