Israeli attacks secret Houthi meeting site in Yemen

Express Tribune

9 hours ago

An Israeli airstrike early Sunday hit a house in southern Sanaa, Yemen, where a clandestine meeting of senior Houthi leaders was reportedly underway.
Houthi security forces quickly cordoned off the house and ambulances were seen transporting casualties, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Anti-Houthi media claimed the meeting was led by Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Supreme Political Council, and Military Chief of Staff Abdulkarim al-Ghamari.
Other unconfirmed reports suggest top officials, including Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Revolutionary Committee Head Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, and Military Intelligence chief Abu Ali al-Hakim, may have been present on the site.
Xinhua cited eyewitnesses who saw at least 10 charred bodies near the blast site. The Houthi group has not issued a formal statement.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been launching missiles towards Israel since November 2023 in support of Palestinians as the war in Gaza goes on.
The group recently vowed to escalate long-range attacks following Israel's attacks on Iran since June 13.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) aimed to eliminate Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari in Sunday morning's operation, according to the Jerusalem Post.
However, IDF has yet to officially comment.
Meanwhile, Iran activated its air defences in several regions on Saturday and Israel told its citizens to take shelter ahead of a fresh barrage of missiles, as the arch-foes exchanged massive strikes in their fiercest confrontation in history.
The fresh attacks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit "every target of the regime", and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned further strikes would draw "a more severe and powerful response".
As global calls for de-escalation grew, a new round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran scheduled for Sunday was cancelled, with Iran saying it could not negotiate while under attack from Israel.
Israel's operation, which began early Friday, has targeted Iran's air defences and hit key nuclear and military sites, killing dozens of people, including top army commanders and atomic scientists, according to Tehran.
On Saturday night, Israel said it was simultaneously working to intercept a new salvo of missiles fired from Iran, while also carrying out strikes on "military targets in Tehran".
The Israeli military told citizens to heed air alerts and "enter a protected space and remain there until further notice".
Iran, meanwhile, announced a "new wave" of attacks targeting Israel.
Tehran's UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and 320 wounded in Friday's first wave of Israeli strikes.
Israel said three people were killed and 76 wounded by Iran's retaliatory drone and missile barrage overnight, which lit up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.