THIS is the dramatic moment a colossal fireball erupted near Yemen’s presidential palace in Israeli missile attacks against the Houthis.
Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, resulting in four fatalities and 67 injuries, as a response to the “multi-headed” warhead unveiled by the Houthis on Friday.
Footage recorded from a nearby tower block shows a huge cloud of flames and smoke erupt from a built-up area as a missile strikes.
A loud explosion is heard moments later.
Flames form a scorching column up into the sky topping by a blazing mushroom cloud – as onlookers shout in terror and car alarms wail.
After the explosion, a thick, black pillar of smoke remains hanging in the air.
A second explosion is then heard and fresh flames spring up – though it’s not clear whether this was caused by a second impact in the same spot.
Smoke can be seen rising from at least one more strike site across the city as the camera pans.
The recent exchanges of strikes over the past three days mark an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Houthis, which intensified after the unrest spread from Gaza.
The Israeli military said Sunday’s targets included a military compound housing the presidential palace, two power plants and a fuel storage site.
A Houthi health ministry spokesperson said the “near-final toll” of the casualties was four deaths and 67 people wounded.
The IDF said it had bombed a “significant electricity supply facility for military activities” of the Houthis.
It added the use of the plants “constitutes further proof of how the Houthi regime uses civilian infrastructure for military purposes”.
The IDF stated: “These strikes were a reaction to the continuous aggressive acts by the Houthi terrorist regime against Israel and its people, including recent launches of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs targeting Israeli regions.”
On Friday, the Houthis confirmed they had fired a ballistic missile into Israel, which they said was in support for Palestinians in Gaza.
An Israeli Air Force official said on Sunday the missile most likely carried several sub-munitions “intended to be detonated upon impact”.
“This is the first time that this kind of missile has been launched from Yemen,” the official said.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have repeatedly attacked passing boats in the Red Sea, wreaking havoc with global trade routes.
They claim the attacks on vessels are also in support of Palestinians.
They have also frequently fired missiles towards Israel – though most of them have been intercepted.
Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port.
Senior Houthi leader Abdul Qader al-Murtada remarked on Sunday: “[Israel] should understand that we will stand by our brothers in Gaza, regardless of the cost.”
