Israel razes Sanaa airport: 3 dead and 38 injured in Yemen

IDF air raid against Houthi infrastructure after rocket fire on Ben Gurion. France and China condemn Israeli plan on Gaza

In the night between Monday and Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of raids on the international airport of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, controlled by the pro-Iranian Houthi rebel group. The attacks left at least three people dead and 38 wounded, according to an initial toll provided by the Yemeni Ministry of Health.

Sky News Arabic television reports that the entire civilian terminal and all aircraft present were destroyed, rendering the airport totally unusable. According to Al-Arabiya, access roads to the area were immediately blocked and the entire perimeter is now off limits to the population. Numerous witnesses spoke of scenes of panic among residents and shopkeepers in the area, who were evacuated after an Idf warning to leave the area.

The IDF: ‘Hit Houthi targets used for terrorist purposes’.
According to the Israeli army spokesman, the Sanaa airport was being used by the Houthis for the transfer of weapons and militiamen, which is why it was targeted. ‘We destroyed crucial military infrastructure, rendering the entire airport unusable. It was a strategic hub for the group’s terrorist operations,’ he said.

The attack follows the firing of rockets at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport by the Houthis last Sunday. No major damage was done on that occasion, but the Israeli response was immediate and large-scale.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared that Israel ‘will strike seven times those who attack it’ and warned Iran: ‘You are directly responsible for the Houthi attacks. You will pay the full consequences’.

Gaza: Israel towards total conquest. Condemnation by France and China
In parallel, the Israeli government has approved a military plan for the conquest of the Gaza Strip, which includes direct and lasting control of the territory. The plan provoked strong international reactions, in particular from France and China.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot spoke of a violation of humanitarian law: ‘We strongly condemn this military operation. It is unacceptable and puts the civilian population at risk’.

Beijing also expressed its clear opposition to the Israeli operations, condemning the ongoing military actions and describing the situation in Gaza as ‘very worrying’. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called for the ceasefire agreement to be respected and stated that China is against the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Hamas pulls out of talks: ‘No truce during hunger war’
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to worsen. In an interview with AFP, Hamas spokesman Basem Naim announced the group’s withdrawal from talks on a new truce. ‘There is no point in discussing a ceasefire while Israel carries out a war of starvation and extermination against our civilians,’ he said.

According to the Israeli army, the expansion of operations in the Strip will include the displacement of most residents. Hamas’ statements thus come in a context of total diplomatic deadlock, in which military actions prevail over attempts at mediation.

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(Photo: © IDF)