A power plant south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa was damaged Sunday morning in an unidentified "attack," according to the Houthi rebel-controlled Al Masirah television channel. The attack knocked out some of the facility's generators, causing a fire that civil defense teams were trying to extinguish.
Residents of Sanaa reported hearing at least two loud explosions shortly before the announcement. The Houthi channel did not specify the origin of the attack, only reporting significant material damage.
The incident comes amid a military escalation. In recent weeks, Israel has carried out several airstrikes against Yemen in retaliation for missile attacks claimed by the Houthis. Most of these projectiles have been intercepted, but the Iranian-backed rebels say they are continuing their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Houthis had already intensified their operations against Israel since October 2023, widening the regional conflict. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched repeated strikes in Yemen, targeting the rebels' military capabilities.
Last May, Washington announced an unexpected agreement with the Houthis: the United States would end its bombing campaign in exchange for a halt to the group's naval attacks in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis insisted at the time that this agreement did not oblige them to cease their hostilities against Israel.
This episode highlights the fragility of a precarious balance in the Middle East, where the war in Gaza continues to unleash new lines of confrontation and regional threats. The damage to the Sanaa power plant risks exacerbating the daily hardships of the Yemeni population, already hit by years of conflict and humanitarian crisis.
A power plant south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa was damaged Sunday morning in an unidentified "attack," according to the Houthi rebel-controlled Al Masirah television channel. The attack knocked out some of the facility's generators, causing a fire that civil defense teams were trying to extinguish.
Residents of Sanaa reported hearing at least two loud explosions shortly before the announcement. The Houthi channel did not specify the origin of the attack, only reporting significant material damage.
The incident comes amid a military escalation. In recent weeks, Israel has carried out several airstrikes against Yemen in retaliation for missile attacks claimed by the Houthis. Most of these projectiles have been intercepted, but the Iranian-backed rebels say they are continuing their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Houthis had already intensified their operations against Israel since October 2023, widening the regional conflict. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched repeated strikes in Yemen, targeting the rebels' military capabilities.
Last May, Washington announced an unexpected agreement with the Houthis: the United States would end its bombing campaign in exchange for a halt to the group's naval attacks in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis insisted at the time that this agreement did not oblige them to cease their hostilities against Israel.
This episode highlights the fragility of a precarious balance in the Middle East, where the war in Gaza continues to unleash new lines of confrontation and regional threats. The damage to the Sanaa power plant risks exacerbating the daily hardships of the Yemeni population, already hit by years of conflict and humanitarian crisis.
A power plant south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa was damaged Sunday morning in an unidentified "attack," according to the Houthi rebel-controlled Al Masirah television channel. The attack knocked out some of the facility's generators, causing a fire that civil defense teams were trying to extinguish.
Residents of Sanaa reported hearing at least two loud explosions shortly before the announcement. The Houthi channel did not specify the origin of the attack, only reporting significant material damage.
The incident comes amid a military escalation. In recent weeks, Israel has carried out several airstrikes against Yemen in retaliation for missile attacks claimed by the Houthis. Most of these projectiles have been intercepted, but the Iranian-backed rebels say they are continuing their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Houthis had already intensified their operations against Israel since October 2023, widening the regional conflict. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched repeated strikes in Yemen, targeting the rebels' military capabilities.
Last May, Washington announced an unexpected agreement with the Houthis: the United States would end its bombing campaign in exchange for a halt to the group's naval attacks in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis insisted at the time that this agreement did not oblige them to cease their hostilities against Israel.
This episode highlights the fragility of a precarious balance in the Middle East, where the war in Gaza continues to unleash new lines of confrontation and regional threats. The damage to the Sanaa power plant risks exacerbating the daily hardships of the Yemeni population, already hit by years of conflict and humanitarian crisis.
