New Missile Threats Over Israel
The military of Israel confirmed on Wednesday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen hours apart from one another, sending sirens over Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the southern West Bank. The Houthi rebels backed by Iran later took responsibility for the launches, terming them a direct reaction to Israeli airstrikes in Yemen in recent times.
The initial missile, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) characterized as a “cluster surface-to-surface weapon,” was launched in the morning and was intercepted above central Israel. Later, around hours after the first one, another missile followed, triggering alarms around 7:30 p.m. There were no reported casualties in both incidents.
Houthis Vow Retaliation
The Houthis, who hold Yemen’s most populous regions, announced the launches were the start of a larger campaign in response to Israeli attacks that killed senior rebel leaders, including Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi and several ministers.
The militia group has accelerated attacks in recent weeks, launching missiles and drones against Israel and attacking shipping vessels affiliated with the country in the Red Sea. Two Houthi missiles broke apart over Saudi airspace before they could hit Israel on Tuesday, the IDF stated. Reports out of Riyadh indicated that surviving Houthi leadership has evacuated the capital, Sanaa, to escape further Israeli airstrikes.
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Escalating Conflict Beyond Gaza
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have taken the side of Hamas, condemning Israel and expressing solidarity with the Palestinians while taking wars beyond the borders of Yemen. Their rallying call is nothing short of the elimination of Israel and America, echoing Tehran’s regional parlance.
During November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis fired over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel. The majority were intercepted, but one attack in July 2024 killed one civilian and wounded several in Tel Aviv, leading to Israel’s first direct attack within Yemen.
While a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year briefly suspended Houthi activity, the movement reupped its campaign following Israel’s renewed operations against Hamas in March. Since then, the Houthis have launched more than 70 ballistic missiles and 23 drones against Israel, with many intercepted but some landing short of their intended mark.
A Regional Flashpoint
Neither the United Nations nor the European Union acknowledges the Houthis as Yemen’s rightful government, and the UN officially labels them as a terror group. At the same time, Israel’s ongoing attacks against Houthi-held territory, including the strategic port city of Hodeidah, have only aggravated anxiety about an expanding regional conflict.
In the meantime, Israel stays on guard, concerned that additional missile assaults from Yemen will further lead to a broader Middle Eastern conflict.
