SANAA/JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel struck a power plant south of Yemen's capital Sanaa on Sunday morning, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.

"The aggression targeted the electricity generators at the power station, causing them to go out of service," the report said, without specifying whether the attack was carried out by jets, missiles or drones. Hours later, it said the flames had been extinguished and no casualties were reported.

Hezam Al-Asad, a Houthi official, condemned the strike on X, calling Israel "a criminal and bankrupt enemy that only targets public service facilities and civilian objects: electricity, water..."

Residents in the area reported hearing two explosions, and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that smoke was seen rising near the facility.

The Israeli military later confirmed the attack, saying it targeted an energy infrastructure site used by the Houthis. The strike, conducted from about 2,000 km away, was in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks against Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"The IDF will continue to act against the ongoing and repeated attacks by the Houthis and remains determined to remove any threat to the State of Israel wherever required," it said.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have launched missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets since November 2023 in what they call acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. Israel has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Enditem