Yemen's Houthis strike Israel with Iranian ballistic missile

JERUSALEM,— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to impose a “heavy price” on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after they managed to strike central Israel with a missile for the first time. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack, which added a new dimension to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, stated that the group used a new hypersonic ballistic missile that covered a distance of 2,040 kilometers (1,270 miles) in just over 11 minutes to reach Israel. This marks a significant escalation, as previous attacks by the Houthis on Israeli territory had not penetrated so far into the country’s airspace.

Initially, the Israeli military reported that the missile had landed in an open area. However, they later clarified that the missile had likely broken apart in mid-air, with debris, including pieces of interceptor missiles, scattering across fields and near a railway station. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The incident triggered air raid sirens across Tel Aviv and other areas of central Israel around 6:35 a.m. local time, prompting residents to rush to shelters. Loud explosions were heard, and smoke was seen rising from an open field in the central region.

Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu warned the Houthis against further provocations, reminding them of Israel’s swift retaliation for past attacks. “Anyone who needs a reminder is welcome to visit the Hodeida port,” he said, referring to an Israeli airstrike in July on Yemen following a Houthi drone attack that had struck Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have intensified their missile and drone attacks on Israel in recent months, claiming they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, particularly following the conflict in Gaza that erupted after the Hamas attack on Israel in October. The July drone strike in Tel Aviv, which killed one person and wounded four others, led to Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets near Hodeidah, resulting in six deaths and 80 injuries.

Prior to this latest missile strike, Houthi attacks had only reached as far as the Red Sea port of Eilat in March, without causing significant damage. However, Yahya Sarea hinted that more attacks could follow as the Houthis commemorate the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Gaza conflict. He also cited the need to respond to Israeli actions against Hodeidah.

Nasruddin Amer, the deputy head of the Houthi media office, suggested in a social media post that this successful strike could be the beginning of a broader campaign, boasting that the missile had evaded 20 Israeli interception attempts before reaching its target.

In a separate incident on Sunday, tensions along Israel’s northern border also flared. Israel’s military reported that around 40 projectiles were launched from Lebanon, with most being intercepted or landing in open areas. No casualties were reported in this attack, but it underscores the increasing complexity of threats Israel is currently facing from multiple fronts.

As these regional tensions escalate, Israel’s leadership has made it clear that any further attacks on its territory will be met with significant military responses, raising the stakes for future confrontations in the Middle East.

(With files from Reuters)