Airstrikes Hit Houthi-Held Yemen Capital Sanaa Amid Renewed Escalation; Reports Say

A series of powerful explosions shook Yemen’s Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, with residents reporting airstrikes across the city amid a sharp escalation in the conflict.

More than seven explosions struck within a short period, residents told Xinhua. They said they heard warplanes overhead as blasts shook several parts of Sanaa.

Residents said the strikes appeared to target several Houthi-held military sites. They reported seeing plumes of smoke rise from the mountainous areas of Al-Nahdayn and Jabal Attan.

Houthi-run al-Masirah TV confirmed that airstrikes hit Sanaa and described them as ‘Saudi aggression’.

The channel did not immediately provide details about the targets or report possible casualties. Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the reports.

Houthi-run media reported several Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks across western, southwestern and northern Yemen last month. The reports included casualties in the Red Sea province of Hodeidah.

Al-Masirah TV said “Saudi aggression warplanes” carried out around 15 airstrikes across Hodeidah on Wednesday. The strikes reportedly targeted telecommunications infrastructure and other facilities.

The channel said the attacks hit telecommunications towers in Al Marawi’ah and Al-Qati’ and a radio station building in Bajil. It reported that at least two people died and four others suffered injuries in the Hodeidah strikes.

The latest strikes came as fighting intensified across southwestern Yemen. Renewed missile, drone and air attacks have further escalated hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

Yemen’s conflict began in late 2014 after the Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia led a coalition intervention in March 2015 to support the internationally recognised government.

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