Israeli Military Says It Intercepted Missile Fired From Yemen

Jerusalem:

The Israeli military successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Friday, following the downing of two projectiles by Houthi militants the previous day.

The Iran-aligned Houthi group from Yemen claimed responsibility for the missile attack, stating that they targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, made the announcement in a televised statement in the early hours of Saturday.

This attack marked the third consecutive strike against Israel by the Houthis within a span of 48 hours. Saree also claimed, without evidence, that the group had carried out attacks on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea.

In response to recent U.S. military operations in the region, including strikes that resulted in casualties, the Houthis vowed to escalate their attacks, specifically targeting Israel. This escalation is seen as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Gaza that have led to numerous casualties after a period of relative calm.

Since the onset of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in late 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on shipping vessels, citing solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

These attacks have had global ramifications, disrupting commerce and prompting costly interception campaigns by the U.S. military.

The Houthis, along with other regional militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and armed groups in Iraq, form the “Axis of Resistance” – an alliance that opposes Israel and Western powers, with backing from Iran.

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