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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Wednesday morning after sirens sounded across Jerusalem and the West Bank. The incident marks the latest escalation in hostilities as the Houthis intensify their campaign against Israel.
Earlier this week, an IDF investigation confirmed that last Friday’s missile launch from Yemen carried cluster munitions. This was the first time that the Houthis have deployed such a weapon against Israel, signaling an alarming escalation in the sophistication of their arsenal.
According to military analysts, Iran has historically used its Houthi allies in Yemen as a testing ground for new weapon technologies. This raises questions over whether the cluster munition originated from Tehran or was developed domestically by the Houthis.
In a statement, the Houthis claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s launch, declaring it a “qualitative military operation” targeting Lod Airport in what they referred to as the “occupied Jaffa area.” They further alleged that the attack employed a hypersonic ballistic missile of the Palestine-2 type, capable of penetrating Israel’s defense systems.
“The missile successfully hit its target after penetrating Israeli defense systems,” the group asserted. The IDF, however, confirmed its defenses intercepted the weapon before it caused damage.
In response, Israel conducted significant retaliatory strikes on Sunday in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. According to The Jerusalem Post, the IDF deployed more than 10 aircraft for the operation, flying over 2,000 kilometers in a five-and-a-half-hour mission.
The strikes involved dropping around 35 precision-guided munitions, targeting areas near the presidential complex, electric power stations, and locations believed to house Houthi ballistic missiles. Witnesses reported explosions in multiple districts of Sanaa, though there was no immediate word on casualties.
The escalation underscores a dangerous shift in the conflict. With the Houthis claiming to possess hypersonic missile technology, Israel faces new strategic challenges in defending its airspace. At the same time, the strikes deep into Yemen highlight Israel’s determination to respond forcefully to cross-border threats.
Military analysts caution that these developments could deepen Iran’s involvement, given its longstanding support for the Houthis and its interest in testing advanced weapons through its proxies.
For residents of Jerusalem and the West Bank, the sirens on Wednesday morning were a stark reminder that the conflict in Yemen has far-reaching repercussions. Meanwhile, Israeli officials reiterated their stance that they will respond decisively to any attack on the country’s territory.
The incident marks a significant escalation in the Houthis’ campaign, widening the scope of threats Israel must contend with as regional tensions continue to rise.
