Yesterday, the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes exposed the growing animosity between Israel and Yemen’s Houthi movement as morning dawned over the burning remains of Sanaa. In a BBC interview, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti’s remarks stood out through the dust and rubble, indicating his unflinching commitment to continue attacking Israel in spite of the growing human cost.
“Our military operations targeting Israel will intensify,” al-Bukhaiti declared from his office in Sanaa, his voice steady despite the recent devastation of his city’s international airport. “The genocide in Gaza must end, and we will not stand idly by while Palestinian blood is spilled.”
The human toll of Thursday’s Israeli strikes became painfully evident as rescue workers pulled bodies from the wreckage of Sanaa’s airport and Red Sea coastal facilities. At least four Yemeni lives were lost in what marked Israel’s most aggressive response yet to months of Houthi missile and drone attacks.
Standing in front of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, the warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut sharp: “What you’ve seen is only the beginning,” he said, his words echoing across an already tense region. It came hours ahead of yet another ballistic missile being sent toward Israel by Houthi forces, with Israeli defense systems intercepting it before it reached its target.
This has made the humanitarian consequences of the conflict of grave concern to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed particular alarm over the targeting of Yemen’s vital infrastructure. “These strikes on airports and ports threaten the lifeline of humanitarian aid to a nation already ravaged by years of civil war,” explained a senior UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The Broader Conflict
Since October 2023, when the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza, Yemen’s north-western regions under Houthi control have become an unexpected flashpoint in the broader Middle Eastern conflict. The movement’s attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and strikes aimed at Israel have transformed a local resistance group into a significant regional player.
People living in Sanaa contributed their views on the worsening situation. “We have gone through many years of conflict, but now there are new threats to overcome,” said Ahmed, a shopkeeper close to the airport who declined to provide more information. Still, many here approve of what our leaders are doing to Palestine, or at least approve of the additional suffering it brings.
The effects of this conflict do not confine only to Yemen, but the global maritime business and Security in the area. Global security analysts in the maritime industry also opine that due to Houthi’s attack, most of the shipping companies have been compelled to change their routes and pass through the famous African Cape of Good Hope, which is very expensive, time-consuming.
When the sun set over Yemen which was already being ravaged by a civil war, the noise of the air raid signals was an unpalatable wake-up call. Despite both factions refusing to surrender, the civilian death toll rises, having Yemenis stumble between extended leadership goals and the sad reality of war.
For now, as rescue teams continue their grim work and families mourn their losses, the question remains: how many more will die for this new episode of the Middle East multifaceted conflict before it is over?
