Israeli strikes kill 9 in Yemen capital

Attack follows failed interception in Eilat

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A plume of smoke rises during an Israeli strike on the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa on Thursday.AFP

(AFP)

Israeli strikes on Sanaa killed at least nine people and wounded more than 170 on Thursday, Yemen's Houthis said, a day after the rebels launched a drone attack on southern Israel.

AFP correspondents heard explosions and saw plumes of smoke rising from three locations in the Sanaa area, in the latest retaliatory attack since the Houthis began targeting Israel in the wake of the Gaza war.

Israeli forces hit several Houthi-linked targets in the rebel-held capital, Israeli officials said, warning of more attacks to come. Houthi media said the targets included a detention facility.

The Israeli military later said "a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted", with sirens blaring in central Israel.

Rescuers in Yemen were still searching for victims of Israeli strikes, which left "nine martyrs and 174 wounded", Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said in an updated toll on X.