Netanyahu Vowed Yemen Will "Pay A Heavy Price" After A Houthi Missile Hit Central Israel For The First Time
The Houthis said its latest move was in solidarity with Palestinians and warned Israel to expect more strikes in the future.
On Sunday, Sep. 15, the Houthis, an armed group that controls most parts of Yemen, launched a missile that reached central Israel for the first time.
The missile struck an unpopulated area, causing no injuries.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and across central Israel around 6:35 am local time, leading residents to run for shelter.
Israel's military said it tried to intercept the missile multiple times, but it still managed to penetrate deep into Israeli airspace.
It said it ultimately managed to intercept the missile but was not able to destroy it.
The missile broke into pieces mid-air, with debris landing near a train station in Modiin and in open areas close to Ben Gurion Airport, according to The Times Of Israel.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since Israel declared war on Hamas on Oct. 7, the Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks towards Israel and on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea to pressure Israel to stop its genocide in Gaza.
In a statement, it said its latest move was in solidarity with Palestinians and warned Israel to expect more strikes in the future.
A Houthi spokesman said the missile crossed 2,040 km in 11.5 minutes, causing "fear and panic" among Israelis.
He said it was a "new hypersonic ballistic missile" that Israel's defenses failed to intercept.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the Houthis would pay a "heavy price" for the attack and said Israel is engaged in a "multi-front conflict against Iran's malevolent axis".
This is not the first time the Houthis have targeted Israel.
The drone was detected but not intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, which is rare; nearly all previous Houthi missiles and drones have been intercepted before reaching Israel.
In retaliation for the July drone attack, Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen, killing six people and injuring 87 others, most of them with severe burns, according to local media.
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Cherry Mohamed
Kassy Cho
