Sanaa (South24)

The Houthi-run health ministry said on Thursday (25 Sep.) that eight people were killed and 142 wounded in preliminary figures from Israeli air and sea strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, which is under the control of the Iran-aligned group.

According to a South24 correspondent, about 15 explosions rocked several areas of Sanaa, with the heaviest strikes hitting the Al-Raqas neighborhood in Maeen district.

Meanwhile, images circulated by activists and Houthi media showed significant damage to several buildings.

#BREAKING

Video documents widespread destruction and collapse of houses on Al-Raqas Street in #Sanaa as a result of Israeli strikes #south24 pic.twitter.com/YhgaB0jRaN

— South24 | English (@South24E) September 25, 2025

In addition, the Houthi intelligence agency said the Israeli strikes targeted security and intelligence facilities, including a prison and a correctional center.

In a statement published by Houthi media, the group argued that the “aggression” aimed to “enable prisoners to escape … as part of the enemy’s criminal scheme to create chaos and insecurity.”

The Houthis further alleged that inmates in the targeted facilities had previously carried out assassinations, bombings and provided coordinates for attacks “during the American, British and Israeli aggression on our country.”

The group has also previously carried out a sweeping wave of arrests against UN employees, accusing them of espionage.

Thursday’s assault came just one day after the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Wednesday that wounded dozens.

#BREAKING
Footage documents site of Houthi drone crash in Eilat, southern Israel#south24 pic.twitter.com/1MaeF0cAj2

— South24 | English (@South24E) September 24, 2025

For his part, Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz said warplanes struck Houthi camps, including the group’s general command headquarters, killing dozens of fighters.

Israeli media likewise reported that the air force targeted Houthi military leaders, command sites and weapons depots in Yemen.

Furthermore, Israel’s Army Radio said more than 65 munitions were used in Thursday’s operation, the largest number deployed in a single airstrike on Yemen, according to Al Jazeera.

Cross-border attacks between Israel and the Houthis have escalated in August and September, the deadliest being Wednesday’s drone strike on Eilat’s tourist district and a September 7 drone attack on Ramon airport.

Earlier this month, Israel launched large-scale strikes on Sanaa and Al-Jawf on September 10, killing and wounding dozens. On September 16, Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi-linked facilities at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah.

The confrontation had already entered a new phase on August 28 when an Israeli strike on Sanaa killed Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi, the head of the Houthi-run, unrecognized government, along with several ministers.