European Commission president calls for sanctions against Israel as airstrikes kill 35 in Yemen
發佈日期: 2025-09-11 20:47
TVB News
At least 35 people have been killed and scores were injured after Israel struck multiple Houthi sites in northern Yemen, in what is deemed as a revenge for Houthi drone attack on an Israeli airport days earlier.
This as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the "catastrophic" situation in Gaza and pledged to impose a package of measures against Israel, including sanctions and cuts in support.
Yemen's health authorities said more than 131 people were wounded in capital city, Sanaa, and the northern province of al-Jawf.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing powerful explosions.
In Sanaa, Israeli bombs hit military camps of Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The headquarters of the group's military propaganda division and a fuel storage site were also targeted.
Ambulances rushed to multiple sites across the city as rescuers searched for survivors amid the rubble.
A Houthi spokesman told reporters that the group fired surface-to-air missiles at Israeli fighter jets.
The conflict was part of a spillover from the war in Gaza.
In August, Israel eliminated Houthi Prime Minister Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi along with other senior figures of the militia group which launched missile and drone attacks on Israel in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
On Sunday, the Houthis launched another drone attack, shutting down Ramon Airport in southern Israel for several hours.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed that Israel's airstrikes on what he called "terror facilities" in Yemen were in part a response to the Houthi attacks.
He said in a video address, "Whoever attacks us, we will reach them."
Meanwhile, in Doha, the capital of Qatar, leaders of Gulf allies are trying to seek collective response to Tuesday's Israeli attack on Qatari territory which targeted Hamas heavyweights. Sheikh Mohammed, leader of the United Arab Emirates, met with Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The emirates previously warned Israel that any effort to annex the West Bank would be crossing a red line and putting the Abraham Accords at risk.
The European Union, meanwhile, is planning to impose sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needs to do more.
She said: "We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem. Second, we will make two further proposals to the council. We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters."
