Israel Strikes Houthi Energy Sites in Yemen as Tensions Escalate

Early Sunday morning, residents of Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, reported hearing at least two powerful explosions near a key energy facility, sending plumes of smoke across the skyline.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed it had carried out precision strikes targeting energy infrastructure used by the Houthi movement, including the Haziz power station south of Sanaa. According to military officials, the operation was a direct response to repeated Houthi attacks on Israeli territory and civilians, including surface-to-surface missile launches and drone assaults.

Army Radio reported that the strikes were conducted with support from the Israeli Navy, drawing comparisons to a previous operation earlier this year in the port city of Hodeidah.

Al Masirah TV, a media outlet operated by the Houthis, described the attack as an “aggression” that temporarily disabled several generators at the power plant. Civil defense teams were dispatched to contain fires sparked by the explosions. The channel did not confirm the identity of the attackers.

Video footage circulating on social media showed thick smoke and flames rising from an unidentified structure in Sanaa. Witnesses said the blasts were felt across multiple neighborhoods.

Past Houthi's attacks (Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The strikes mark the latest chapter in a months-long cycle of hostilities. The Houthis, a Yemeni armed group aligned with Iran, have fired missiles toward Israel in what they describe as support for Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Most of these projectiles have been intercepted by Israeli defenses.

Israel is not alone in targeting the Houthis: the United States and the United Kingdom have previously launched airstrikes in Yemen against the group. In May, the U.S. announced a surprise agreement halting its bombing campaign against the Houthis in exchange for a cessation of the group’s attacks on international shipping. The Houthis, however, made clear that the deal did not extend to Israel.

The IDF’s latest operation underscores Israel’s commitment to neutralizing threats emanating from Yemen while the region remains embroiled in broader Middle East tensions.