September 11, 2025, Sanaa, Yemen
In a significant and deadly escalation of regional hostilities, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes in Yemen on Wednesday, leaving at least 35 people dead and more than 130 wounded. The attacks, which struck sites in the capital, Sanaa, and the northern governorate of al-Jawf, occurred just one day after a separate Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, which targeted a building housing Hamas leaders. The strikes have fueled fears of a wider, more volatile conflict in the Middle East.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, the death toll from the airstrikes is not final, as search and rescue efforts are ongoing. Houthi-affiliated media and witnesses on the ground reported that a medical facility, a fuel storage depot, and a government compound were among the targets. These claims of attacks on civilian infrastructure were refuted by the Israeli military, which stated the strikes hit “military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime,” including “military camps” and the Houthis’ “Military Public Relations Headquarters.”
The attacks on Yemen mark the latest in a series of reciprocal strikes between Israel and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have repeatedly launched drones and missiles toward Israel and attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea in what they claim is a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel, in turn, has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
The timing of the strikes—following closely on the heels of the Israeli attack in Qatar—has raised concerns from the international community. The Qatari government has condemned the attack on its soil as an act of “state terrorism” and has reportedly suspended its role as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The back-to-back attacks in two separate countries suggest that Israel is expanding its military strategy to project force beyond its immediate borders to combat perceived threats from Iran-backed proxies.
The attacks have been condemned by several countries, including Russia and China, and have prompted calls from the European Commission for sanctions against Israel. Meanwhile, the escalation has created a precarious situation, as the continued exchange of fire between Israel and the Houthis risks broadening the conflict in Gaza into a wider regional confrontation.
