Houthi Missile Strikes Central Israel for First Time; No Injuries Reported, According to Reuters

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would impose a "heavy price" on the Iran-aligned Houthis controlling northern Yemen after they successfully launched a missile that reached central Israel for the first time on Sunday.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile that covered 2,040 kilometers (about 1,270 miles) in just 11 and a half minutes. Initially, Israeli military reports indicated the missile had landed in an open area. However, they later assessed that it likely fragmented in the air, with debris from interceptor missiles landing in fields and near a railway station. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.

Air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and surrounding regions just before the missile’s impact at approximately 6:35 a.m. local time, leading residents to seek shelter as loud explosions reverberated in the area. Smoke was seen rising from an open field in central Israel.

During a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu emphasized that the Houthis should realize the consequences of attacking Israel. He added, "Whoever needs a reminder of that is invited to visit the Hodeida port," referencing an Israeli airstrike in July that was a retaliatory action against Yemen following a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have consistently fired missiles and drones at Israel, claiming to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause since the Gaza conflict intensified following a Hamas attack on Israel in October. The drone strike in July when a missile hit Tel Aviv resulted in one fatality and four injuries, while Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi military facilities near Hodeidah claimed six lives and injured 80.

Previously, Houthi missiles had not penetrated far into Israeli airspace. The only instance prior to this was in March, when a missile landed near the Red Sea port of Eilat without causing damage.

Sarea indicated that further strikes should be anticipated as the anniversary of the October 7 operation approaches, including responses to aggression towards Hodeidah. The deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, claimed that the missile successfully reached Israel after "20 missiles failed to intercept" it, labeling this event as merely the "beginning."

Additionally, the Israeli military reported that approximately 40 projectiles were launched towards Israel from Lebanon, all either intercepted or landing in open areas, with no injuries reported.