On Sunday, the Israeli air force conducted a strike on Yemen’s capital city, Sanaa, following the Houthi rebel group’s launch of a cluster bomb at Israel, marking the first such incident in two years.

Israel’s airstrike involved deploying numerous bombs on military sites in Sanaa, including locations near the presidential palace. The attack resulted in at least two fatalities and left 35 individuals injured, as reported by the Houthi-controlled health ministry.

The Israeli military stated that their operation specifically targeted the Asar and Hizaz power plants within Sanaa, labeling them as “crucial electricity supply facilities for military operations.”

According to residents speaking to The Associated Press, the capital was shaken by intense explosions near the military academy and presidential palace. Smoke was seen rising in the vicinity of Sabeen Square, a central area frequently used for pro-Houthi demonstrations.

“The explosions were incredibly loud,” recounted Hussein Mohamed, a resident living near the presidential palace, while another witness described the explosions as powerful enough to shake his entire home.

An Israeli air force official told the AP that more than 10 jets were used to carry out the bombing campaign in Sanna.

This assault on Sanaa followed the Houthis’ launch of a cluster bomb on Friday targeting Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel.

While there were no damages after the bomb fragmented mid-air following several interception attempts, the Israeli air force official warned that the rocket posed a serious threat to the Jewish state.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the cluster munition makes it harder for the country’s defense systems to intercept all the bombs, signaling a worrying advancement for the Iran-backed terror group.

The Houthis had not fired such a weapon since 2023, when it began attacking Israel following the Israel Defense Force’s invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the attacks on Israel would not stop until the war in Gaza ends, as he claimed that the strikes on Sanaa would not deter the rebel group.

“Our military operations supporting Gaza won’t stop, God willing, unless the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted,” Amer said in a statement.

With Post wires