and moscow pushes back against growing speculation it may have been involved in the deadly crash of a passenger plane. tribute pouring for the former indian prime minister who has died at the age of 92. the united nations is condemning the latest escalation between yemen and israel — warning that airtrikes on red sea ports and airports pose grave risks to humanitarian operations. israel earlier launched multiple retaliatory airstrikes 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. they started launching attacks after the war in gaza and the hutus have been stepping up their attacks in the past few weeks. on thursday benjamin netanyahu said that israel will continue to fight against the houthis until, quote, thejob is done. translation: fix, houthis until, quote, the “ob is done. translation: a short time auo is done. translation: a short time ago the — is done. translation: a short time ago the air _ is done. translation: a short time ago the air force - is done. translation: a short time ago the air force attacked j time ago the air force attacked targets of the houthi terrorist organisation in yemen both on the coastline and in sana'a. we are determined to cut this branch of terrorism from the iranian axis of evil and we will continue until the job is done to benjamin netanyahu is facing

legal trouble at home is done to home as his corruption trial continues. on thursday, israel's attorney general ordered police to open an investigation into a report accusing mr netanyahu's wife, sara, of allegedly harassing political opponents and a witness in the prime minister's trial. the israeli justice ministry has declined further comment. meanwhile in central gaza, healt 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 asked our correspondent injerusalem, shaimaa khalil — about the significance of the latest israel—yemen tensions. this is the second israeli airstrike on yemen in less than airstrike on yemen in less than a week and it comes as this month has seen significant attacks, a significant rise in attacks, a significant rise in attacks by houthis in yemen here on israeli territory. this week alone has seen five attacks on israeli territory. own saturday there was a

projectile launched from yemen. it was not intercepted and it landed in a public park in tel aviv. hours after that the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, vowed that they are going to be retaliation and he instructed the israeli forces to retaliate against those attacks. what we have seen today are attacks, or israeli air attacks on the sana'a international airport but also in the red sea port city of her died out. were images and videos of panic among people inside sana'a airport as they rushed and tried to get out of the place. also we saw plumes of smoke at the site. also you saw a great deal of destruction in hodeidah as a result of airstrikes. the israeli military struck targets saying that they struck targets used by iran backed houthis to smuggle weapons into the

region. they had two power stations in three ports and targets in and around the airport. the houthis have said this is a crime against yemeni people in colder barbaric. we heard from one of the injured, we spoke describing how the runway was hit three times and how the tower was hit and how he could escape through the window. the houthis have 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 houthis, to go after the infrastructure and to go after the leadership and they say that they will meet a similar fate to hamas say that they will meet a similarfate to hamas in gaza and to haslar in lebanon. both also backed by iran, both suffering devastating losses to their infrastructure and the killing of the leadership. in the past hour, the us state department issued a statement about israel's airstrikes on yemen, saying the us supports israel's right to defend itself but adding it must also ensure the protection of civilans in the region.

for more i have been speaking to the senior yemen advisor. as well targeting what it calls infrastructure used by the houthis, we are talking about power stations and ports on the international airport in the capital but what do you make of these strikes and targets that israel chose?— israel chose? this is classic of israel — israel chose? this is classic of israel to _ israel chose? this is classic of israel to attack _ of israel to attack infrastructure but the thing we misunderstand is this is infrastructure that is critical to the population. the houthis were trying to bait the israelis, to attack those sites. dig because it will infuriate the public and it will increase their recruitment drive locally. they can turn around and say sequence might we have a common and many this affects your lives. that is what the israelis did. in turn they could have targeted just they could have targeted just the leadership, targeted the missile launch areas all the military camps and this is what

we've seen over the past few outrage from the public locally and people saying they went for that they could have gone for the artery the houthi but instead they attacked civilian infrastructure.— instead they attacked civilian infrastructure. and the head of the who was _ infrastructure. and the head of the who was there _ infrastructure. and the head of the who was there at - infrastructure. and the head of the who was there at the - the who was there at the airport! are you surprised that they carried out the attack with the potential knowledge that there was a high—ranking un member there? that there was a high—ranking un memberthere? hat that there was a high-ranking un member there?— that there was a high-ranking un member there? not 'ust ted ross and also * un member there? not 'ust ted ross and also the h un member there? notjust ted ross and also the resident - ross and also the resident representative. he has been working under challenging conditions and talking to them, the attack happened metres from where they were. you the attack happened metres from where they were.— where they were. you spoke with them? yes- _ where they were. you spoke with them? yes. it— where they were. you spoke with them? yes. it was _ where they were. you spoke with them? yes. it was a _ where they were. you spoke with them? yes. it was a miracle - them? yes. it was a miracle that they — them? yes. it was a miracle that they survived _ them? yes. it was a miracle that they survived it. - them? yes. it was a miracle that they survived it. but. them? yes. it was a miracle that they survived it. but it | that they survived it. but it seems to be an oversight that the attack happened during a time when they were there at the airport. but also a un employee was hurt. he was hurt by the bombing, by the shrapnel

and others were killed, many civilians were at the airport and so far we know that three are dead and i7 and so far we know that three are dead and 17 were hurt at the airport. but there are additional casualties at the seaport in hodeidah. we saw this exchange, _ seaport in hodeidah. we saw this exchange, haven't - seaport in hodeidah. we saw this exchange, haven't we, i seaport in hodeidah. we saw. this exchange, haven't we, over the last few weeks between the houthis and israel. prime minister netanyahu now saying that after these strikes we are only starting with them. how do you think it will continue? will there be more's strikes on targets like this will there be an escalation estimate that is what i think people are concerned about, the un as well. ., . , , well. unfortunately we will see an escalation. _ well. unfortunately we will see an escalation. the _ well. unfortunately we will see an escalation. the houthis - an escalation. the houthis continue to put the bear and israel now has a lot more bandwidth than it had before when they were dealing with hezbollah and syria so they have intensified their airstrikes. the thing is we are afraid that the infrastructure has a ready been debilitated given the past ten years of war so going after further

infrastructure, whatever remains standing, you are talking about water treatment plants and electricity, you're talking about bridges and especially now there are many cities that are connected by roads, those roads are being targeted as well which will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis inside the country and will advance the houthi narrative that the israelis are fighting a regional war notjust against them but against the whole yemeni population.- them but against the whole yemeni population. how far do ou think yemeni population. how far do you think a _ yemeni population. how far do you think a ceasefire _ yemeni population. how far do you think a ceasefire deal - yemeni population. how far do you think a ceasefire deal on . you think a ceasefire deal on gaza which we keep hearing signals about that it could be close, how far do you think that would go towards ending this current outbreak of violence between the houthis and israel? mt; violence between the houthis and israel?— violence between the houthis and israel? g ., , ., and israel? my honest opinion? the are and israel? my honest opinion? they are an _ and israel? my honest opinion? they are an opportunistic - they are an opportunistic group. the houthis use the gaza issue for their own purposes. so even with a ceasefire they will come up with additional demands to continue the war. the way they stay in power is through perpetual conflict. if

the conflict ends today nobody will elect the houthis to government. they know they will be gone the moment the conflict is over so they need to be in a constant state of war.- constant state of war. briefly, doctor ted — constant state of war. briefly, doctor ted ross _ constant state of war. briefly, doctor ted ross was - constant state of war. briefly, doctor ted ross was there - constant state of war. briefly, | doctor ted ross was there and they were there to negotiate they were there to negotiate the release of un staff detainees and to assess the humanitarian situation. remind us, what are there in people in yemen facing?— yemen facing? oppression. houthis have _ yemen facing? oppression. houthis have complained i yemen facing? oppression. - houthis have complained about the targeting of the airport but the hootie's have been targeting them themselves. they have been torturing people entertaining and executing them. so the houthis right now, ted ross was there to negotiate but they are kidnapping additional people and using them as pawns to negotiate

additional deals. over the last two weeks they captured additional people. syria's new defector government - additional people. syria's new| defector government launched additional people. syria's new i defector government launched a security operation against loyalists. the mission is in response to a deadly attack launched by pro— assad militias that killed at least ia fighters from the group. it comes as the serious islamist leader threatens to crack down on anyone attempting to undermine the country's security. on high alert, security reinforcement is under way. the government has launched an operation against former members of the assad regime. the majority of them supported him and many are blamed for the bloodbath in syria. while assad sought asylum in russia with his family, his followers are left to face prosecution here. many refused to give up arms and could pose threats to the

country's security. these protests erupted on wednesday in many cities and towns. they are chanting about the shrine that was vandalised in november. although they have since had reconciliation between them and other communities when the video was released yesterday tensions once again ramped up. locals reported that some religious leaders called for protesters to take to the streets. this is a predominantly allied neighbourhood that supported the assad regime. when he took part in the brutal crackdown against syrians, arresting and torturing people inside prison. when video was released of the vandalised shrine weeks later after the incidents happened, rights took place here in some clashes were reported but it appears the main reason behind these protests in these communities is to pressure for general amnesty for them and to

protect those who were close to assad. thousands of syrians disappeared in prisons. security forces were behind the torturing deaths of tens of thousands, and they were mainly from this community. a general amnesty means no punishment for those with blood on their hands. families are still waiting for answers. for prosecution of the killers