Yemenis chant slogans during a protest staged against the Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa and in solidarity with Gaza at Al-Sabeen Square in Sanaa, Yemen, on Aug. 29, 2025. Tens of thousands of people attended the mass rally here on Friday. Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Thursday afternoon, as the Houthi group denied claims that the attacks targeted a gathering of its commanders. Israeli media reported that the strikes targeted several locations where Houthi commanders were allegedly gathering to watch the weekly televised speech of the group's leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, adding that "all were struck simultaneously within minutes." (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
SANAA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Thursday afternoon, as the Houthi group denied claims that the attacks targeted a gathering of its commanders.
Residents said they heard warplanes overhead and witnessed 10 large blasts in the southern part of Sanaa, hitting areas including Attan Mountain, Al-Sabeen Square, and the Central Security Camp.
The Houthis have not yet disclosed casualties or damage.
Israeli media reported that the strikes targeted several locations where Houthi commanders were allegedly gathering to watch the weekly televised speech of the group's leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, adding that "all were struck simultaneously within minutes."
However, senior Houthi official Nasr Al-Deen Amer dismissed the reports, telling the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV that "no commander was targeted in Sanaa." He said the attacks hit civilian areas "to punish Yemenis for their support for Gaza."
Houthi-controlled Saba news agency, citing an unnamed defense official, described the Israeli attack as a "failure" and reiterated that no leaders were hit.
The airstrikes came a few hours after the Israeli military said it had intercepted two drones fired from Yemen.
The first drone entered Israeli airspace at noon, triggered air raid sirens, and was intercepted by the Israeli air force over communities near Gaza. The second, fired less than two hours later, was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, the military said in a statement.
No human casualties or material damage were reported from the two drone attacks. There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group regarding the incidents.
This was the second wave of Israeli airstrikes this week against Houthi targets in Sanaa, following Sunday's strike on power and fuel stations, which killed at least 10 people and wounded 92 others, including women and children, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have carried out drone and missile attacks on Israel since November 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted by Israel.
The Houthis have also targeted Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea in recent months, damaging dozens and sinking four. ■
