UPDATE 2 - Yemen’s Houthis report Israeli airstrikes on Al Hudaydah

UPDATES WITH ISRAELI ARMY STATEMENT

By Anadolu staff

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – Yemen’s Houthi group reported Israeli airstrikes on the western city of Al Hudaydah on Sunday.

The Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said the strike targeted a power plant in the city.

Footage posted on social media showed smoke rising from the area.

Israeli Channel 12 said the strike destroyed oil tanks at Al Hudaydah Port.

"In a large-scale aerial operation today (Sunday), dozens of aircraft hit military targets of the Houthi group in the Ras Issa and Al Hudaydah regions of Yemen," the Israeli military said in a statement.

It added that “power generation stations and a seaport used for weapon transfers” were hit.

The attack was a response to recent attacks carried out by the Houthis against Israel, the military said.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,600 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 800 people and injured over 2,500 others since Sept. 23.

Several Hezbollah commanders were killed in the Israeli onslaught, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala