Israeli airstrikes in Yemen damage homes, leave families struggling in Sanaa
World Desk
Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have severely damaged residential areas in the capital, Sanaa, leaving families living amid ruins with little hope of assistance from local authorities.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, Wednesday’s strikes killed 46 people, including 11 women and five children, and injured 165 others. Eleven journalists were also among the dead. Most casualties were reported in Sanaa, where dozens of homes in central neighborhoods, including Tahrir, sustained extensive damage.
The strikes followed a Houthi-launched drone attack on a southern Israeli airport, which breached Israel’s air defenses and injured one person. Houthi officials also reported damage to a military headquarters, a fuel station in Sanaa, a government facility in Hazm, and Yemen’s National Museum. Footage from Sanaa showed shattered walls, debris, and destroyed interiors in residential buildings.
Residents told UNB that they cannot afford repairs and have received no assistance from authorities. Um Talal, a mother of two sons and a daughter, described her damaged home, saying, “Everything was lost in the blink of an eye. Authorities haven’t even called us to this day.” Despite the destruction, she said the family plans to rebuild what they can and continue living there.
Shopkeeper Khaled al-Dabeai said the blasts terrified residents, causing widespread panic, and knocked products off store shelves. Another resident, Ahmed al-Wasabi, said his family narrowly escaped when part of their house was destroyed.
Israel has repeatedly launched airstrikes in response to Houthi missile and drone attacks, which the rebels say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat vowed to continue attacks, warning Israelis to “stay alarmed since the response is coming for sure.”
The strikes highlight the ongoing human cost of Yemen’s civil war, exacerbating the plight of civilians already struggling amid years of conflict and economic hardship.
