Waves of air strikes hit cities in Yemen

Air strikes have been reported in two cities in Yemen.

Witnesses and governing Houthi rebels said an airport and military base were targeted in the capital Sanaa, while a power station in the western port city of Hudaydah was also hit, the AFP news agency reported.

Houthi TV blamed the strikes on Israel, which has not commented on the reports.

Casualties were not clear from initial reports. In recent days Israel has warned it was preparing a major attack on the Houthis after the group fired drones and missiles at it.

Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been attacking Israel since the first months of the Gaza war, which began in October 2023. The war was triggered by a massive attack on Israel by Hamas in Gaza, which was praised by the Houthis.

Israel has carried out intermittent strikes against Houthis in retaliation.

Earlier this week, Israel’s defence minister said the country was preparing to “strike hard” at the Houthis, warning it would “decapitate” the group’s leadership.

The Houthis are an armed political and religious group backed by Iran. The group has ruled large parts of western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since ousting the internationally recognised government in 2015.