Ballistic Missile Launched at Israel by Yemen’s Houthis Intercepted by Air Defenses

JERUSALEM — A ballistic missile launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses on Sunday morning, marking at least the eighth attempted attack since mid-March.

The missile was shot down before crossing into Israeli airspace, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. The attack triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, including several towns near Jerusalem and some settlements in the West Bank.

In the resulting panic, a 42-year-old woman sustained moderate injuries after falling into a roadside ditch along the Route 1 highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem while seeking shelter.

Medics transported her to a Tel Aviv hospital with injuries to her limbs and back, according to the Magen David Adom emergency service. The escalation comes as the Houthis continue to claim attacks on Israeli and American targets in the region.

Just hours before the missile launch toward Israel, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group had engaged the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea three times within 24 hours, utilizing missiles, drones, and naval forces.

The Houthis justified their actions as part of their broader commitment to supporting Palestinians in Gaza, stating that their attacks would persist until Israel ends its military operations there.

U.S. Retaliatory Strikes in Yemen

The Houthi assault coincided with reports of multiple U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. According to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah network, at least four airstrikes struck the Saada governorate early Sunday, followed by three more in the Bani Matar district near the capital, Sanaa.

The network did not provide details on casualties or damage, and the U.S. Central Command had yet to issue a statement regarding the strikes.

Overnight airstrikes between Friday and Saturday reportedly killed at least one person as U.S. forces targeted a significant military site in central Sanaa.

An Associated Press review found that the new U.S. military campaign under President Donald Trump has been more extensive than previous operations under former President Joe Biden, now focusing not only on launch sites but also on ranking Houthi personnel and strategic urban targets.

The renewed military pressure follows the Houthis’ threats to resume attacks on any vessel with ties to Israel in key maritime routes. The group had previously targeted over 100 merchant ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, sinking two and killing four sailors.

Rising Regional Tensions

The Houthis’ attacks on Israel began in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the taking of 251 hostages.

While the group temporarily ceased operations following a ceasefire agreement in Gaza in January, they resumed missile strikes after Israel rejected further negotiations and restarted military action against Hamas in March.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have begun threatening Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes, despite the fact that both Gulf nations have distanced themselves from Washington’s latest military campaign in Yemen.

The intensifying conflict has also sparked controversy in the United States. A journalist recently revealed that top officials in Trump’s national security team had discussed a March 15 strike in a commercial chat group just two hours before it was executed, raising concerns over security protocols within the administration.

With tensions mounting in the region and beyond, all eyes remain on how Israel, the U.S., and other key players will respond to the ongoing Houthi threats and their broader implications for Middle Eastern stability.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members