live from washington. this is bbc news. israel launches a barrage of air strikes on houthi targets in yemen, including the capital's international airport. moscow pushes back against growing speculation it may have been involved in the deadly crash of a passenger plane. hello, i'm carl nasman. the united nations is condemning the latest escalation between yemen and israel — with its chief warning that airtrikes on red sea ports and airports pose grave risks to humanitarian operations. israel earlier launched multiple retaliatory air strikes against the iran—backed houthis in yemen — reportedly killing at least three people. the israel defense forces said it was conducting "intelligence—based strikes on military targets belonging to the houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland yemen" the strikes hit port towns and power stations — as well as the international airport in yemen's capital.

a video from inside the sanaa airport shows people running out of the terminal in a panic. the head of the world health organization, dr tedros — said the bombardment happened "metres away" as he was about to board a flight in sanaa. fighting has intensifed between israel and houthi rebels since the war in gaza erupted last year. on thursday, prime minister benjamin netanyahu said israel will continue fighting against the houthi rebels until �*the job is done�*. a short time ago, the air force a short time ago, the air force attacked targets of the houthi attacked targets of the houthi terror organisation in yemen, terror organisation in yemen, both on the coastline and in sana'a. both on the coastline and in sana'a. we are determined to cut we are determined to cut this branch of terrorism this branch of terrorism from the iranian axis of evil. from the iranian axis of evil. we will continue declined further comment. we will continue until thejob is done. until thejob is done. benjamin netanyahu is facing benjamin netanyahu is facing political troubles domestically — political troubles domestically — as his corruption trial continues. as his corruption trial continues. on thursday, israel's attorney on thursday, israel's attorney general ordered police to open general ordered police to open an investigation into a report an investigation into a report accusing mr netanyahu's wife, sara, accusing mr netanyahu's wife, sara, of allegedly harassing of allegedly harassing political opponents — and a witness — political opponents — and a witness —

in the prime minister's trial. in the prime minister's trial. the israeli justice ministry has the israeli justice ministry has declined further comment. meanwhile in central gaza, health officials say five journalists have been killed by an israeli strike. the strike hit a marked broadcast van outside al—awda hospital in the nuseirat refugee camp. the israeli military said those killed were members of a "terrorist cell". i've been speaking to our correspondent in jerusalem, shaimaa khalil. this is the second israeli strike in less than a week

one of them injured more than a dozen people when it landed in tel aviv on saturday. the houthis have vowed time and time again to continue what we have seen today are strikes on the capital in a sanna but also in the port city and there were eight images of panic of people inside sanna airport fresh trying to get out of the place, but also we had seen plumes of smoke at the site. also you saw a great deal of construction as a result of those air strikes. the israeli military strike targets saying that they —— used by the persian back houthis to smuggle weapons into the region they had two power stations in three ports and targets in and around the

airport. the houthis and said this is a crime against the yemeni people and called the barbaric and actually heard from one of the injured who spoke to the that channel was hit three times and how the tower was hit and how he can only escape through the window. the iran backed group, houthi has vowed to continue their attacks until the end of the war in gaza but now we see a real focus from the israeli leadership to go after the infrastructure to go after the leadership and they say that they will meet similar fate hamas in gaza and to the hezbollah and lebanon also a parish of bags and lebanon also a parish of bags and both suffering devastating losses to their leadership and infrastructure.— infrastructure. also in gaza a palestinian _ infrastructure. also in gaza a palestinian tv _ infrastructure. also in gaza a palestinian tv channel- infrastructure. also in gaza a i palestinian tv channel reporting five of its journalists killed in a israel lee strike, what more do we know about what took place? it;

really illustrates the difficulty in the challenge when international media is unable to go and freely report from gaza prevented by israel. we understand from al quda channel that five of its journalists were killed parked outside of al—awda hospital and we understand one of the wife's of the jury list was in the hospital about to give birth to the first born when the five journalists were struck. israel gives a different account, they say that they had intelligence that the men were posing as journalists as they describe the and that they were involved in conduct —— combat and propaganda for the islamichhad group. the islamichhad group also took part in the hamas led an attack in israel on october the 7th in

2023. we saw footage of how the destruction of this vehicle essentially it was just charged main goals of metal but a mother of one of the journalists was crying in front of her son's body inconsolably but also a localjournalist front of her son's body inconsolably but also a local journalist who front of her son's body inconsolably but also a localjournalist who said that this is a tragedy and that these men were known. a crucial point to add is that al quds channel is affiliated with the islamichhad group that they received funding from the islamichhad group but it is difficult for the bbc to end apparently —— independently verify these narratives from both sides. we heard from the committee to protect journalist say they were devastated by the reports at and that journalists are civilians and that they must also be protected but highlighted in the number of journalists killed in this conflict since the beginning up until the 25th of december hundred and 23

journalists were killed in gaza making this the deadliest conflict to cover. in the past hour, the us state department issued a statement about israel's air strikes on yemen — saying it supports israel's right to defend itself but added that it must also ensure the protection of civilans in the region. for more, let's bring in the senior yemen adviser with the european institute of peace, hisham al—omeisy. we should say with the us state department. is israel targeting infrastructure and used by the houthis we are talking about power stations and the airport in the capital what you make of the targets israel has chosen? this capital what you make of the targets israel has chosen?— israel has chosen? this is classic of israel to _ israel has chosen? this is classic of israel to attack _ israel has chosen? this is classic of israel to attack infrastructure | of israel to attack infrastructure but the thing concerning me is that this is infrastructure critical to the population. the houthis were trying to bait the israelis knowing the strategy to attack those sites because it would inferior rate the public and increase the recruitment

locally that is pretty much with the israelis did. in turn they could have just targeted the leadership and missile launch areas and the military houses in this is what we have seen over the past the hours comes outcry from the public locally. people saying they could have gone for the artery of the houthis but instead they chose to attacks civilian infrastructure. fix, attacks civilian infrastructure. a strike on the airport, the head of the who was there, are you surprised that they carried out the strike with the potential knowledge that there was a high—ranking un member there was a high—ranking un member there as well. was there was a high-ranking un member there as well-— there as well. was also another member there _ there as well. was also another member there working - there as well. was also another member there working under i member there working under challenging conditions and talking to them, it happened metres from where they were. i spoke with him

yes it was a miracle that they survived it but it seemed to be an oversight that it happens at the at the time that they were there at the airport but also a un employee was hurt. he was hurt by the shrapnel and others at the airport that were killed, there were civilians at the airport, so far we know three were dead and about 17 were hurt at the airport. it also the seaport had additional college duties, and hodeidah. irate additional college duties, and hodeidah. ~ ., additional college duties, and hodeidah. ~ . , , additional college duties, and hodeidah. . , , . ., hodeidah. we have seen this exchange between them — hodeidah. we have seen this exchange between them with _ hodeidah. we have seen this exchange between them with these _ hodeidah. we have seen this exchange between them with these and - hodeidah. we have seen this exchange between them with these and israel. between them with these and israel and netanyahu saying that he is only getting started, how will we see this continue will we see an escalation between israel and the houthi is, that is what people are concerned about the un as well. unfortunately we will see an escalation. the houthis continued to

poke the bear and israel has a lot more bandwidth than it had with before when it was dealing with his brother and syria as well so they have intensified the air strikes. the thing is we are afraid that the infrastructure has already been debilitated by the past ten years of work so they are going after further infrastructure but it still remains standing so you were talking about water treatment plants, electricity, bridges, and especially now there are a lot of cities that have been connected by roads and they may be targeted as well which will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis inside of the country and will advance the houthi narrative that israelis are waging a war notjust against the houthis but against the entire yemeni population. horse against the houthis but against the entire yemeni population.- against the houthis but against the entire yemeni population. how far do ou think a entire yemeni population. how far do you think a cease-fire _ entire yemeni population. how far do you think a cease-fire in _ entire yemeni population. how far do you think a cease-fire in gaza - entire yemeni population. how far do you think a cease-fire in gaza which l you think a cease—fire in gaza which we hear signals could be close, how much do you think it would go in so far as ending the current conflict between the houthis and israel.

knowing the houthis and they are an opportunistic group, they use the gazaissue opportunistic group, they use the gaza issue to advance their own goals that even if there is a cease—fire, the hoodies will raise the bar and come up with additional demands to continue the war. the way they stay in power is through the potential —— perpetual conflict. if the conflict ends today, no one will elect the houthis to government, they know they will be gone for the conflict is over so they need to be in this constant state of war. doctor tetris was there to negotiate the situation of the detainees and remind us with the people in yemen are facing. remind us with the people in yemen arefacin. ,, ,, ., remind us with the people in yemen arefacina. ,, ,, ., ., , are facing. oppression. the houthis have been complaining _ are facing. oppression. the houthis have been complaining but - are facing. oppression. the houthis have been complaining but the - have been complaining but the targeting of the airport and targeting of the airport and targeting the power grids but they have been targeting airports and

capturing and torturing and executing people i was tortured myself by the houthis so tender us was there to negotiate with them to release detainees but they are actually kidnapping additional people using additional deals over the past two weeks they have a captured additional people. russia says it won't speculate on suggestions from aviation experts that russian air defences may have struck the passenger plane that crashed in kazakhstan on wednesday, killing 38 people. 29 people on board survived. president putin's spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment until an official investigation is complete. the azerbaijan airlines jet was travelling from baku to chechnya when it diverted to kazakhstan, before crashing near aktau. jonathan josephs reports.

on board the stricken aeroplane, the passengerfilming this notices some damage under the wing. back inside, despite oxygen masks and life jackets being visible, those on board seem calm. it's not clear how long before the crash this was filmed. there were 62 passengers and five crew on board this azerbaijan airlines flight from baku to grozny in southern russia. amateur footage shows the pilot struggling to control the plane as it tries to land. the force of impact split the plane in two, with the front half destroyed by fire. the key question is why. i spoke to one military expert who said suggestions of a bird strike being responsible were unlikely. at the moment, evidence is still coming out, but the most likely hypothesis we see is that it was struck by an air defence missile, almost certainly russian, in the area over grozny where the plane was holding. ukrainian drones were active at the time, and this is commensurate with everything we've seen in the pilot's communication with

air traffic control. and currently it's the only thing that fully fits the facts that we know. these holes in the surviving part of the fuselage will be examined by investigators. meanwhile, azerbaijan airlines have suspended all flights in the region. they have not grounded their other six embraer e1905, suggesting the cause was not technical or mechanical. the aircraft has a good safety record. russia's government says no conclusion should be drawn until the kazakh—led investigation is complete. amongst those wanting answers will be those survivors who remarkably walked away. this man says his wife had been sitting next to him, but he hasn't seen her since the crash. this is the family of one of the flight attendants. in a video call, he reassures them, saying, "don't worry, tell mum not to worry.

thank god we're safe. " at baku's airport, large crowds queued up to pay their respects and lay flowers in memory of the dead, as families across the region struggle to understand what caused their loved ones to perish. jonathan josephs, bbc news. joining me live is konul khalilova, news editor for bbc azerbaijan. bring this up—to—date. there are a lot of investigations taking place, where do things stand right now. there is an increasing blaming and pressuring of the azerbaijani government media towards russia to admit that it was them who shot down the plane. the commentators on the pro—government tv in azerbaijan saying that they expect them to admit that that he took down the plane. quite a few of the channels which are under strict government control of her the

which are under strict