Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Thursday targeting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, in what it called “Operation Drop of Luck,” claiming to have struck a building housing over 10 senior military and political leaders of the Iran-aligned movement.
The Israeli military said the strikes focused on a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and reportedly included among the targets the Houthi Chief of Staff and Defense Minister. The full extent of the damage and casualties remains under assessment, according to Israeli military radio and Channel 12.
The operation marks a significant escalation in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Houthi forces, who have targeted Israeli and international shipping in the Red Sea and declared open hostility toward Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
According to Israeli sources, more than ten airstrikes were carried out across Sana’a as fighter jets zeroed in on what was described as a gathering of senior Houthi officials. The attack reportedly coincided with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, though it remains unclear if he was near the target site.
Local sources in Yemen confirmed that Israeli air raids also struck additional targets in the northern provinces of Hajjah and Amran, though independent verification remains difficult due to restricted access and the absence of international monitors.
Israel Claims Strategic Blow to Houthi Command
Channel 12 reported that the targeted meeting in Sana’a involved some of the group’s top brass, and that preliminary assessments suggest the operation was successful. The Israeli military has not yet released names or confirmed kills, but sources indicate there is growing confidence that the Houthi Chief of Staff and possibly the group’s Defense Minister were present at the time of the attack.
Israeli officials have increasingly emphasized their intent to disrupt the Houthi command structure and deter future attacks on regional maritime routes and Israeli territory. The latest strikes come amid rising pressure on Tel Aviv to counter Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Houthis Deny Casualties, Accuse Israel of Targeting Civilians
In response to the strikes, Houthi spokesperson Nasreddin Amer rejected claims that senior leaders were killed or even targeted in the airstrikes, accusing Israel of once again striking civilian infrastructure.
“This was a failed aggression like those before it,” Amer told Palestinian news outlet Ma’an. “There were no military targets hit in Sana’a. This was yet another Zionist attempt to punish the Yemeni people for standing with Gaza.”
Amer insisted the Israeli narrative was “confused and inaccurate,” maintaining that the areas hit were civilian zones devoid of any Houthi leadership or strategic value. He reiterated the group’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, saying: “Our operations in support of Gaza will continue, and no amount of Israeli aggression will deter us.”
Geopolitical Fallout and Broader Implications
The Israeli strikes come amid deepening regional entanglements in the wake of the Gaza war, as the Houthi movement positions itself as a frontline player in the so-called “Axis of Resistance” that includes Iran-backed forces across Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.
While Israel has previously responded to Houthi drone and missile attacks on its southern territory and Red Sea shipping lanes with precision strikes, Thursday’s operation marks one of the most significant and direct assaults on Houthi leadership to date.
Analysts warn that the move could further destabilize Yemen’s fragile security situation and provoke retaliation from the Houthis, who have vowed to expand their operational reach in response to Israeli aggression.
As both sides escalate rhetoric and military action, the situation threatens to draw Yemen deeper into a widening regional conflict, one where symbolic alliances and real-world consequences continue to blur.
