In a tense early morning development, sirens blared across central Israel, prompting immediate action from the Israeli military. Following the alerts, the Israeli army confirmed that it had intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen. The missile, which was targeted by an ‘Arrow’ interceptor, was successfully neutralized outside of Israeli territory.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that there were no immediate changes to their defensive protocols.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been increasingly active in targeting Israel with missiles and drones. These attacks, which they claim are in solidarity with the Palestinians, have intensified since the start of the Gaza war on October 7th.
In July, the Houthis launched a drone attack on Tel Aviv, marking the first time they had struck the city. The attack resulted in one fatality and four injuries. Israel responded with airstrikes against Houthi military positions near the port of Hodeidah, leaving six dead and 80 wounded.
Earlier this month, Houthi missiles reached central Israel, prompting Israel to deploy an interceptor that successfully fragmented the missile in the air. This latest incident, however, underscores the escalating conflict and the growing threat posed by Houthi militants to Israel’s security.