Israeli retaliatory strikes hit Yemeni presidential palace

The strikes are the latest in more than a year of direct attacks and counterstrikes between Israel and Houthi militants in Yemen, part of a spillover from the war in Gaza.

Houthi media said the latest Israeli strikes, launched on Sunday local time, killed at least two people and injured 35.

In a statement, the Israeli military said the targets included a military compound housing the presidential palace, two power plants and a fuel storage site. 

"All were used for the military activity of the Houthi terrorist regime," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Sanaa residents told The Associated Press they heard explosions close to a closed military academy and the presidential palace. 

They saw plumes of smoke near Sabeen Square, a central gathering place in the capital.ABC reported.

The IDF claimed the presidential palace was located within a military site "from which the military forces of the Houthi terrorist regime operate".

"The strikes were conducted in response to repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime against the State of Israel and its civilians, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs toward Israeli territory in recent days," it said.