Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Yemen’s Houthis will face a “heavy price” following a missile strike that reached central Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that the missile landed in an uninhabited area early on Sunday morning but noted that it was able to breach air defense systems, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities.
This incident marks a significant escalation, as it is the first recorded instance of a Houthi missile reaching central Israel, approximately 2,000 kilometers from Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that multiple interception attempts were made, but the missile likely fragmented mid-air.
The Houthis asserted that the operation involved a new type of hypersonic missile, contributing to the unsuccessful intercept efforts. The group, which has gained control of significant territories in Yemen amidst an ongoing civil conflict, claims allegiance to an Iran-led “axis of resistance” against Israel and its allies.
In a statement, the Houthis claimed the attack was executed in solidarity with Palestinians and warned that more strikes could occur as the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaches. Fragments from the missile reportedly struck a railway station in Modiin and open ground near Tel Aviv’s main airport, with initial assessments suggesting damage was caused by Israel’s interceptor missiles.
Netanyahu emphasized that the attack underscored Israel’s ongoing “multi-front battle against Iran’s axis of evil.” He reiterated that any acts of aggression against Israel would be met with severe consequences, drawing parallels with the current operations against Hamas.
Since the beginning of hostilities on October 7, over 41,206 casualties have reportedly been recorded in Gaza. This incident isn’t the first Houthi aggression towards Israel; in July, a Houthi drone attack resulted in one death and several injuries in Tel Aviv. Historical data indicates that prior Houthi missile and drone attempts towards Israel had been largely intercepted successfully. Following the recent missile strike, Israeli forces retaliated by targeting Hodeidah in Yemen, leading to significant damage at a key oil storage facility.
