Israel launches attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen: Army bombs military base near presidential palace and power plants

Israel bombed Houthi rebel positions in the Yemeni capital on Sunday, as part of the clashes that erupted after the war in Gaza. The attack was confirmed by Israel and security sources within the rebel group.

"Recently, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) attacked Houthi regime military infrastructure in the Sana'a area, including a military base where the presidential palace is located ," the army said in a statement.

The Israeli statement comes shortly after Houthi rebels reported Israeli attacks on an oil company and a power plant in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which was also the target of another Israeli military attack a week ago, pro-insurgency media reported.

The Israeli military reported attacking Houthi military targets in the capital Sanaa, including areas near the presidential palace, power plants, and a fuel storage facility.

"The strikes were carried out in response to the Houthi regime's repeated attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles into Israeli territory in recent days," the military said in a statement.

A security source for the rebels who control large swathes of Yemen told AFP that the attack targeted a municipal building in the city center, adding that there were reports of casualties.

The Houthi-controlled Al Masirah television network reported that Israeli airstrikes hit an oil company station and a power plant south of the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have launched repeated missile and drone attacks against Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, which began with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas's assault on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023.

Yemeni rebels claim to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel has managed to intercept most of the Houthi attacks and has retaliated with airstrikes against targets in Yemen.

On August 17, Israel claimed to have attacked electrical infrastructure in Sana'a, and Al Masirah reported that the attack was on the rebel-controlled Haziz power plant.

"The attacks were carried out in response to the Houthi regime's continued attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and drones," Israeli forces said in a statement at the time.

The army did not provide further details about the target of its August 17 attack, although local Yemeni media reported that a power plant south of Sana'a was attacked overnight, causing a fire and knocking out several generators.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, allied with Iran, frequently attack Israel with ballistic missiles and drones, although the vast majority of launches are intercepted before reaching their target.

In response, Israel has attacked Sana'a on several occasions, as well as other Houthi-controlled areas of the country.