Israeli forces unleashed a series of deadly strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa and the western city of Hodeidah on Thursday, according to Houthi-run media, killing at least four people and injuring more than a dozen others.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed responsibility for a series of airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday it claimed were targeting Houthi military infrastructure.

Yemen-based Houthis — the last of Iran-backed groups still fully present in the regional war that began 14 months ago — are slowly escalating attacks on Israel with an eye to avoid full-out retaliation.

Air strikes have been reported in two cities in Yemen. Witnesses and governing Houthi rebels said the country's main international airport and a military base were targeted in the capital Sanaa, while a power station in the western port city of Hudaydah was also hit,