Retaliation or Escalation? Israel Pounds Yemeni Capital After Houthi Drone Strike

A Drone Strike in Eilat. A Barrage in Sana’a.

The Israeli Air Force launched its most extensive airstrike campaign to date against Houthi military sites in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, early Thursday morning, just hours after a Houthi drone attack wounded 22 civilians in the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat.

The strikes targeted seven high-value compounds, including the Houthis’ general staff headquarters, intelligence and propaganda departments, and weapon storage facilities. According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the operation killed “many dozens of Houthi terror operatives” and destroyed stockpiles of drones and munitions.

But the cost wasn’t limited to militants. The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported eight civilian deaths and 142 injuries, with rescue teams still searching for missing persons amid the rubble.

The Iron Dome Failed. Israel Responded With Fire.

Wednesday’s drone strike on Eilat exposed a critical vulnerability: Israel’s Iron Dome failed to intercept the incoming UAV, which evaded detection until moments before impact. The drone, launched from Yemen, slammed into a hotel district, leaving two men in critical condition and triggering widespread panic.

Within 24 hours, Israel retaliated with 20 fighter jets, spy planes, and aerial refuelers, flying over 2,200 kilometers to reach their targets in Sana’a. The IDF dropped more than 65 munitions, marking the largest single strike against the Houthis since hostilities began in 2023.

“This was not a warning shot. It was a declaration,” said one senior IDF official. “We will strike wherever threats emerge—no matter the distance.”

What Was Hit—and Why It Matters

According to the IDF, the targets included:

• The Houthis’ general staff headquarters

• Compounds used by the security and intelligence apparatus

• The propaganda department, which broadcasts weekly speeches by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi

• Military camps used to store weapons and coordinate attacks on Israel

The timing of the strikes—moments before al-Houthi’s televised address—was symbolic. It sent a message not just to Yemen, but to Iran, which backs the Houthis as part of its “Axis of Resistance.”

A Wider War in the Shadows

The conflict between Israel and the Houthis is no longer a proxy skirmish—it’s a direct front in a growing regional war. Since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Israel has responded with 19 separate strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including attacks on airports, power plants, and port infrastructure. In August, an Israeli strike reportedly killed the Houthi prime minister and nine ministers, escalating tensions further.

“After Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime, the Houthis are the last remaining arm of Iran’s axis of evil,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “They will learn the hard way that whoever harms Israel pays a very heavy price.”

Court Magazine Investigates

• Israel Yemen airstrikes 2025

• Houthi drone attack Eilat

• IDF strikes Sana’a

• Middle East escalation

• Iron Dome failure

• Abdul-Malik al-Houthi speech

• Israel retaliation Yemen

• Civilian casualties Sana’a

• Red Sea conflict

• Iran-backed Houthis