Israel Strikes Houthis in Yemen, Clashes Escalate Across Region
From the Israeli Air Force’s command center in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir watched as the military carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Images released from Katz’s office showed the officials monitoring the operation. According to reports, the air force hit several sites in Sanaa, including a military compound near the presidential palace, as well as a fuel depot and two power stations.
Israel says the attack was in direct response to the Houthis’ repeated missile and drone assaults on Israeli territory.
Strikes Reported in Gaza and Lebanon
While Yemen was being targeted, Palestinian media reported that Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis came under Israeli fire. Initial reports mentioned an upper-floor strike that left two people dead and several others injured.
Later updates from Gaza put the death toll at 14, including three journalists, with footage showing rescue workers hit by a follow-up strike. Palestinian sources eventually raised the figure to 15 dead, four of them journalists.
The IDF has not immediately confirmed details, but military officials suggested the incident was not an airstrike by the Israeli Air Force, pointing instead to possible ground operations.
Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, media outlets said an Israeli drone strike near Tebnine left one person dead. Again, the IDF offered no immediate comment.
Netanyahu on Hezbollah and Lebanon’s Future
Alongside the ongoing clashes, Netanyahu issued a statement on Lebanon, saying Israel would be prepared to withdraw from five military posts in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) move forward with steps to disarm Hezbollah.
The Prime Minister’s Office described Lebanon’s recent decision, under President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam, to work toward disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of 2025 as “a momentous step.”
“This is Lebanon’s chance to restore full sovereignty and bring back the authority of its state institutions free from the grip of non-state actors,” the statement read.
Israel signaled that if the LAF follows through, it will coordinate a phased IDF withdrawal under a U.S.-led security mechanism, stressing the need for both nations to move forward with “cooperation, stability, and prosperity.”
IDF Orders Inquiry Into Hospital Strike
Hours after the reports from Khan Younis, the IDF confirmed that its troops did carry out a strike in the area. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 20 people were killed, with four journalists among the dead.
Lt. Gen. Zamir has ordered an immediate inquiry into what happened.
“The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians and in no way directs strikes at journalists. We continue to take measures to minimize harm while ensuring the security of our forces.”
