Israeli strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, Thursday afternoon killed at least nine people, including four children and two women, the health ministry in the Houthi-controlled government said.

The ministry added in its latest update in the early hours Friday that three elderly people were also killed and 174 people were injured.

A total of 59 children, 35 women, and 80 elderly people were among those wounded.

The death and injury tolls are not final as medics are still searching for victims believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Al Masirah TV, the Houthi group's media arm, ran footage of damage after the strikes and later ran more footage of injuried people being treated in a hospital in Sanaa.

The Israeli military said Thursday it carried out strikes in Yemen, with dozens of aircraft targeting Houthi military command headquarters, military camps and security and intelligence facilities.

The strikes came a day after a drone launched by the Houthis rebels wounded 22 people in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, a rare breach of Israel’s air defences.

One strike targeted a densely populated area, hitting a building in al-Rakas Street that is believed to have housed a Houthi leader, according to residents who spoke with The Associated Press on Thursday.

The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim.

Ahmed al-Mahweity, a resident in the area, told The Associated Press on Friday the strikes caused a massive level of destruction that partially damaged tens of houses in the neighbourhood because of the intensity of the explosions.

Israel has previously launched waves of airstrikes in response to the Houthis’ firing missiles and drones at Israel.

The Houthis say they are supporting Hamas and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for over 22 months, saying they are attacking in solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza.