Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted a series of intense airstrikes on Sunday, August 24, 2025. The strikes targeted key infrastructure in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, including sites near the presidential palace, power stations, and fuel depots. According to reports from Houthi-controlled media, the bombardment killed at least six people and injured 86 others, many of whom remain in critical condition.

Netanyahu, speaking from the IAF command center in Tel Aviv, emphasized that Israel would continue both preemptive and retaliatory strikes against any actors planning or executing attacks against the Jewish state. He declared:

“Whoever attacks us, we will attack him. Whoever plans to attack us, we attack him. The entire region is learning Israel’s strength and determination. The Houthi terrorist regime is paying a very heavy price for its aggression against Israel.”

Israeli Air Force Targets Presidential Palace, Fuel Depots, and Power Plants

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that their strikes specifically targeted strategic sites in Sanaa. While Netanyahu did not directly confirm whether the presidential palace was destroyed, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the palace had been struck and heavily damaged.

Katz stated:

“The IDF has now destroyed the Houthi presidential palace in Yemen and attacked fuel depots and electricity stations. We continue to impose an air and naval blockade and are hitting infrastructure used to promote Houthi terrorism.”

This marks one of the most significant escalations in Israel’s campaign against the Houthis, who in recent months have launched long-range missile and drone attacks targeting Israel.

Rising Civilian Toll and Houthi Response

Houthi-run media, including the Saba News Agency and Al-Masirah TV, reported that alongside the six fatalities, dozens of civilians were injured when an oil facility in southern Sanaa was engulfed in flames following the Israeli strike. Massive explosions sent fireballs into the night sky, with black smoke covering much of the capital.

The same power station hit in this strike had also been targeted in a previous Israeli attack earlier in the week, suggesting a systematic campaign to cripple the Houthis’ ability to sustain their operations.

Dangerous Escalation: Houthis Deploy Cluster Bombs

The latest round of hostilities came shortly after the Israeli military revealed that a Friday night missile attack launched from Yemen carried a cluster bomb warhead. This was the first confirmed use of such weaponry by the Houthis in the conflict, and Israeli officials described it as a “serious escalation” requiring a forceful response.

Defence Minister Katz warned:

“For every missile that the Houthis launch at Israel, they will pay many times over.”

Regional Context and Iran’s Role

The conflict between Israel and the Houthis is increasingly viewed as part of a wider regional confrontation involving Iran’s proxy network. Tehran has been accused of supplying the Houthis with advanced weapons systems, including ballistic missiles and armed drones, which are used to threaten Israel and disrupt maritime trade routes in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.

Israel, for its part, has made it clear that it sees the Houthis not as an isolated militant group but as part of Iran’s broader “axis of resistance”, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, and other factions across the Middle East.

Humanitarian Concerns

International observers have expressed alarm over the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli strikes. Yemen is already suffering from years of civil war, food shortages, and a crumbling healthcare system. Aid organizations fear that continued airstrikes on civilian infrastructure such as power plants and fuel depots could worsen the crisis, leaving thousands without electricity, clean water, or medical supplies.

The United Nations has yet to release an official statement, but diplomats in New York have hinted that urgent consultations are underway to address the escalating confrontation.

Israel’s Security Doctrine

Netanyahu’s latest remarks highlight Israel’s evolving security doctrine, which emphasizes deterrence through overwhelming force. The strategy seeks to convince adversaries that any attack against Israel will result in disproportionate retaliation.

This doctrine has been evident in Israel’s recent military campaigns in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, and now appears to be extended to Yemen, a country more than 2,000 kilometers away. Analysts say this demonstrates Israel’s long-range strike capabilities and its willingness to project power far beyond its borders to protect its citizens.

Conclusion

The situation remains volatile as Israel and the Houthis exchange attacks, raising fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its allies. Netanyahu’s warning that the Houthis will pay a “very heavy price” underscores Israel’s determination to deter future aggression, even as humanitarian groups warn of the dire consequences for Yemen’s civilian population.

As both sides escalate their actions, the Middle East faces another flashpoint that could further destabilize the already fragile security environment in the region.

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