In a shocking escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israeli air strikes in Houthi-controlled Yemen have reportedly killed at least 35 people, according to sources from the Iran-backed group’s health ministry. The strikes took place on Wednesday and targeted various military sites in the capital, Sanaa, as well as al-Jawf province.

The Israeli military justified their actions, claiming they aimed at military targets including a so-called "public relations headquarters" for the Houthis, following a series of missile and drone attacks launched towards Israel. However, Houthi officials vehemently disputed these assertions, alleging that civilians—including journalists—were among those killed when two newspaper offices were struck.

In a demonstration of escalating tensions, Israeli forces reported intercepting a missile fired from Yemen just hours after the strikes. Eyewitness videos flooded social media, capturing billowing black smoke from the aftermath of the explosions, as first responders sifted through the rubble of flattened buildings.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailed their operations in a statement, mentioning multiple military targets hit, including camps used for planning attacks on Israeli territory. These assaults have become more frequent as the Houthis have launched a barrage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles aimed at Israel, resulting in several strikes over the past two years, with varying degrees of success.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their military stance, stating during an event: "We will continue to strike. Whoever attacks us, we will reach them." His comments came on the heels of previous statements claiming the elimination of several Houthi terrorists.

Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, insisted that the Israeli strikes were entirely aimed at civilian sites. Reports from Al-Masirah TV detailed civilian casualties following strikes on a medical facility in Sanaa, as well as government buildings and financial institutions in al-Jawf.

Dr. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi health ministry, provided grim updates, stating 28 individuals were killed with over 100 injured in Sanaa alone, as search efforts for survivors under the debris continued.

In a further show of defiance, Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, warned that "retaliation is inevitable." Such rhetoric reflects the Houthis' long-standing claim to defend Palestinian rights, which they assert is the basis for their actions against Israel.

The Houthis have had dominion over much of northwestern Yemen since the start of a civil war a decade ago, a conflict that has intensified since recent clashes involving other parties, including Israel and Hamas. Israel's air strikes in Yemen have predominantly aimed at countering the Houthi missile threats, and both the U.S. and U.K have conducted their own operations in the region amid escalating maritime conflicts involving Houthi forces.