Houthi rebels in Yemen said Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, following several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel.

The strikes targeting the airport, military facilities and power stations followed rising hostilities between Israel and the Huthis, part of Iran's 'axis of resistance' alliance against Israel.

The Israel Defence Forces claim they have struck multiple “Houthi terrorist” targets in Yemen on Thursday, including the airport in the capital Sanaa and three ports along the western coast. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was in Sanaa airport at the time of the attack.