Israeli air raids struck Yemen's main airport and power stations in the Sanaa area yesterday, Houthi media and Israel's military said, the latest retaliation for a missile attack by the Iran-backed rebels.

AFP correspondents in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa reported hearing several strikes and seeing plumes of smoke rising from areas including the airport.

An Israeli military statement said that "fighter jets struck and dismantled Houthi terrorist infrastructure at the main airport in Sanaa" and hit "several central power plants" in the area of the capital.

An earlier raid on Monday killed at least four people and wounded 35 others, according to Houthis, when Israel hit a cement factory and the lifeline port of Hodeida.

Yesterday's raids hit several locations including Sanaa airport, three power stations in and around the capital, and a cement factory in Amran, rebel media said.

They follow the Iran-backed Houthis' missile attack on Israel's main airport on Sunday, which for the first time penetrated the perimeter, leaving a large crater near a car park.

Just before yesterday's attacks, Israel's military urged Yemeni civilians to "immediately" evacuate the airport and "stay away from the area".

"Failing to evacuate may put you at risk," military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X in Arabic.

The latest exchanges come as regional tensions soar anew over Israel's plan to expand operations in Gaza and displace much of its population.

The Huthis blamed Israel and its ally the United States for the latest strikes. While Israel claimed responsibility, an American official denied any US involvement in Monday's raids.

There was no immediate US comment yesterday.