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In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully intercepted a projectile fired from Yemen towards central Israel, sparking a wave of sirens across the region.
The missile launch, attributed to the Houthi movement, comes amidst rising tensions between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Israel, with several similar incidents occurring over the past week.
According to Israel’s military, the missile was intercepted before it could cause any fatalities or significant damage. However, the projectile set off alarm sirens in central and southern Israel, prompting a widespread response.
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency service, reported treating over 20 individuals for injuries sustained while seeking shelter or due to anxiety caused by the sirens.
Among them, a 60-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury on her way to a shelter and was later evacuated to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for treatment.
The missile interception marks another escalation in a series of recent attacks emanating from Yemen. Houthi official Hezam al-Asad, shortly after the projectile launch, posted on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating the group’s vow to continue targeting Israel.
“We will not stop until the aggression against our people in Gaza stops,” he wrote, also making a direct threat to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Netanyahu will know that the dreams of the new Middle East are nothing but a curse for him and his imported entity.” The missile attack is part of a broader pattern of Houthi missile launches aimed at Israel.
On Saturday, a rocket fired from Yemen struck Jaffa, a district in Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people, all of whom were treated for minor injuries caused by flying glass from windows shattered by the blast.
Earlier in the week, on Thursday morning, another missile was launched toward central Israel, but it was intercepted by the country’s Iron Dome defense system, with no casualties reported.
In retaliation, Israeli fighter jets from the Israel Air Force (IAF) conducted airstrikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a.
The targeted strikes were aimed at Houthi missile storage facilities and command centers, as the Israeli military responded to the ongoing threat posed by the group’s missile operations.
Adding to the international dimension of the conflict, the United States also joined the military action over the weekend. U.S. forces launched airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Houthi missile storage and command facilities in Sana’a.
These strikes underscore the growing concern over Iran’s role in supplying and supporting the Houthi rebels, who have escalated their missile attacks in recent months.
While Israel’s missile defense systems continue to prove effective in intercepting projectiles, the continued missile launches from Yemen are heightening security concerns for Israeli civilians.
The escalation is also fueling diplomatic tensions in the region, with the Houthis issuing repeated threats against Israel in response to ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza.
The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further military confrontations and strikes.
As the Houthis signal their intent to persist with attacks, Israel is bracing for additional threats, while the international community watches the conflict’s potential spillover effects across the Middle East.