Israel Launches New Strikes in Yemen as EU Chief Pushes for Sanctions Over Gaza War.
Israel carried out another wave of heavy airstrikes in Yemen on Wednesday, days after Houthi rebels launched a drone that struck an Israeli airport. At least nine people were killed and more than 100 injured when Israeli jets targeted military facilities and a fuel station in Sanaa, the capital, according to Houthi-run authorities. Residents reported massive explosions across the city, with flames and smoke visible for hours.
The strikes came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would push for EU sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel over its ongoing war in Gaza. The move reflects Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation after its strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, a U.S. ally, earlier this week.
Houthi officials said one Israeli strike hit a military headquarters in central Sanaa, while others damaged nearby houses. Another attack reportedly struck a government site in Jawf province, where rebels said they fired surface-to-air missiles at Israeli aircraft.
Israel has repeatedly responded to Houthi missile and drone launches with airstrikes in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis claim to support Hamas and have escalated attacks on Israeli territory since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry reported dozens of new casualties, including children, as famine worsens in the north. Von der Leyen condemned what she called a “man-made famine” and vowed that the EU would act: “For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity. This must stop.”
The war has left more than 64,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza officials, while Israel insists it targets Hamas militants and blames the group for operating in civilian areas.
Remind, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that the EU will propose new sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza, including restrictions on hardline Israeli ministers and a partial suspension of trade benefits. Delivering her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, she noted that the plan reflects rising European concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and increasing pressure on Brussels to respond.
