TEL AVIV: A missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis struck central Israel on Sunday, triggering a rush to shelters and causing localized damage but no casualties, but again added to regional tensions nearly a year into the Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza.
The missile landed in the vicinity of Lod, near Tel Aviv, resulting in a brush fire and damage to infrastructure, including shattered glass at a train station in Modin, about 20 kilometers southeast of the Israeli commercial hub.
Israeli authorities reported that several people sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter, but there were no fatalities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, promising that the Houthis would face a “heavy price” for their actions. In a statement from a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel would retaliate to any threats to its security.
The Houthi group, which has previously been involved in missile and drone strikes targeting regional interests, claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a video statement from Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree, the missile was aimed at an Israeli military position in the Jaffa area and succeeded in reaching its target.
Saree also claimed that the missile breached Israeli defenses, although initial Israeli military assessments suggest that the missile may have fragmented mid-air, complicating interception efforts.
The Israeli military confirmed that multiple attempts were made to intercept the missile using the Arrow and Iron Dome defense systems, with the results still under review. Sirens blared across Tel Aviv, prompting a scramble for safety among residents. Israeli police reported finding a fragment of an air-defense interceptor in Shfela, east of Tel Aviv.
The Houthi attack is part of a broader pattern of regional unrest linked to the ongoing Gaza conflict. The Houthis, who have voiced solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have escalated their attacks in response to the Israeli bombardments. This missile strike follows a July drone attack claimed by the Houthis that penetrated Israel’s air defenses in Tel Aviv.
In retaliation for the July drone strike, Israel conducted an airstrike on Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Hodeida, Yemen. This marked Israel’s first known strike on Yemeni territory and led to significant damage and casualties in the Houthi-controlled region.
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The recent escalation comes as tensions remain high on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces. On Sunday morning, approximately 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards Israel’s Upper Galilee region and the Golan Heights.
Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, has warned of severe consequences if Israel intensifies its military actions, predicting large-scale casualties and displacement on both sides.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called for a reassessment of the status quo along Israel’s northern border, indicating a potential shift in military strategy.
Meanwhile, ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in significant casualties. At least 41,206 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza since October 7, the territory’s health ministry reported.
International efforts to mediate a truce and secure a hostage release deal have so far failed to yield results.
In Israel, public discontent with the government’s handling of the conflict continues to grow. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday, urging the government to prioritize negotiations and secure the release of captives.
