Sanaa vows retaliation after Israeli strikes on civilian sites

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 May 2025 21:13

Yemen's Foreign Ministry warned that "the aggression will not go unpunished," describing the strikes as a direct assault on the Yemeni people and their national resources.

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Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes targeting a power plant and Sanaa Airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sanaa has strongly condemned a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted key civilian infrastructure across the country. In a statement released following the attacks, the ministry warned that "this aggression will not go unpunished," describing the strikes as a direct assault on the Yemeni people and their national resources.

The airstrikes targeted Sanaa International Airport, power stations, ports, and industrial facilities such as the Amran cement plant. According to the Yemeni Ministry of Health, the preliminary toll stands at three civilians martyred and at least 38 wounded, with damage assessments ongoing. Al-Masirah TV reported that the targeted sites had no military function and were vital to Yemen's civilian infrastructure.

Yemeni officials noted that the coordinates of all impacted civilian sites had previously been shared with both the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the International Committee of the Red Cross in an effort to protect them from attack.

Aggression will be met with retaliation

Ansar Allah's Political Bureau issued a strong response, vowing that the strikes "will not go unanswered." The group reiterated its continued support for Gaza and the Palestinian Resistance, stating, "The aggression is further evidence of the enemy's weakness and desperation."

Referring to the bombing of ports, the capital's airport, power stations, and industrial zones, the group said the attacks aim to intensify the blockade on Yemen and punish it for standing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Mohammed al-Farah, a senior member of the political bureau, stated that many of the sites hit in the recent raids were the same civilian facilities destroyed during the Saudi-Emirati war in 2015. "These are civilian installations with no military relevance," he said, promising they would be rebuilt once again.

Al-Farah also reaffirmed that the ongoing blockade on Israeli-linked maritime activity would remain in place. "Support operations for Gaza will not stop," he said. "The Yemeni people today stand in a great and honorable position where sacrifice is inevitable. The enemy will pay a heavy price for its aggression."

International reactions and regional escalation

The airstrikes drew condemnation from Iran, which called the attacks a "flagrant crime" and a violation of international law.

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed deep concern over the escalation, warning that the strikes could destabilize an already fragile regional situation and reignite broader conflict in Yemen.

The attacks follow reports on Monday that a projectile fired from Yemeni territory struck "Israel's" main airport, briefly disrupting operations for about thirty minutes, and causing multiple airliners to halt trips to the occupied territories.

While no casualties were recorded, the missile reportedly bypassed Israeli and US interception systems, including Arrow and THAAD. Yemen later confirmed responsibility for the strike, as a direct response to Israeli aggression and part of its continued support for Gaza.

Later that day, "Israel", in coordination with the US, launched a wave of airstrikes on the western Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. According to Al-Masirah, both the port and surrounding urban areas were targeted, reporting a total of six strikes.