As the conflict in West Asia intensifies, Yemen launched a ballistic missile towards Israel on Monday, further escalating tensions in the region. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the missile was successfully intercepted by Israel’s Arrow long-range missile defence system, which neutralised the threat before it could reach Israeli territory. The missile, a surface-to-surface type, triggered sirens in central Israel, causing widespread concern.
This incident follows Iran’s launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel just days earlier, marking an increasingly volatile situation involving multiple regional actors. The Yemeni missile launch is seen as part of a broader escalation driven by Iran-backed forces across the region, with the Houthis in Yemen playing a significant role. No group has yet claimed responsibility for this latest attack, though Iran’s influence over Houthi forces is widely acknowledged.
Earlier on the same day, around 135 rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, adding to the mounting cross-border violence. These attacks are linked to ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group. The IDF responded by conducting extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The conflict has further deepened as Hezbollah continues to launch rocket attacks from Lebanon, with Israel responding in kind. This uptick in violence occurs against the backdrop of heightened hostilities following Israel’s recent strikes that killed high-profile figures like Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.
This latest attack also coincides with the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attacks in Israel, during which over 1,200 people were killed, and around 250 taken hostage. The anniversary marks a grim reminder of the ongoing violence and has sparked renewed military confrontations across the region.
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The situation underscores a rapidly shifting power balance in West Asia, where countries like Yemen, backed by Iran, are increasingly playing active roles in destabilising the region. The IDF remains on high alert as this conflict continues to evolve.
