A missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck an open area in central Israel on Sunday, igniting air raid sirens at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
Though no injuries or major damage were reported, the missile’s impact marks a significant escalation in the conflict.
Footage aired by Israeli media captured civilians rushing to shelters at the airport, which resumed normal operations shortly after.
Israel’s military reported that the missile was intercepted but not entirely destroyed.
A fire was observed in a rural region of central Israel, and images of debris, possibly from an interceptor missile, were shown on Israeli news. Fragments were spotted on an escalator in Modiin’s train station.
The military said the sound of explosions in the area also came from interceptors.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at a military response, stating, “The Houthis should have known by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us.”
Smoke rises from a fire in central Israel after the Israeli army said a missile fired from Yemen landed in an open area on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. No casualties or major damage were reported, but people briefly sought shelter.
AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg
This missile is the latest in a series of attacks by the Houthis, who have launched drones and missiles toward Israel throughout the war in Gaza.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, claimed the missile targeted a “military site” near Tel Aviv.
While most have been intercepted over the Red Sea, this is the second time an attack has penetrated Israeli airspace.
In July, an Iranian-made drone launched by the Houthis struck Tel Aviv, killing one and injuring 10 others. Israel responded to that attack with a wave of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen.
The Houthis have ramped up attacks since the war in Gaza began, with numerous strikes on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, asserting solidarity with the Palestinians.
Houthi Claims of Striking Down U.S. Drone
A locator map for Yemen with its capital, Sanaa. The Houthis claim they used a locally made missile, though Iran has supplied them with surface-to-air missiles previously.
AP Photo
On Monday, the rebels also claimed they shot down an American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over Dhamar province.
In the past, the Houthis have exaggerated similar claims, especially as part of their ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since the Israel-Palestinian conflict began.
However, the video evidence bolstered their latest claim, particularly after two previous assertions lacked any proof.
The U.S. military has yet to comment on the incident, which allegedly occurred in Yemen’s southwestern Dhamar province.
The videos circulating this time show armed rebels near flaming wreckage, identifying the aircraft as an MQ-9.
Reapers, each costing approximately $30 million, are capable of flying at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and can remain airborne for up to 24 hours before requiring landing.
Both the U.S. military and the CIA have operated these drones over Yemen for years.
Yemen Houthi loyalists celebrate the birthday of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad on Sept. 15, 2024, in Sana’a, Yemen. Since the start of the Gaza conflict, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant vessels in the Red Sea, often claiming these attacks are against ships linked to Israel or its allies.
Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)
Saree says this marked the third drone downed by the group in a week.
Though Saree claims the rebels used a local missile, Iran has long been linked to arming the Houthis with the 358 surface-to-air missile.
Iran denies involvement, but Tehran-made weaponry has frequently been found in the region.
The Houthis have escalated their attacks in the Red Sea, targeting over 80 merchant vessels since October, causing widespread concern over shipping routes.
While the rebels claim to target Israeli, American, and British vessels, many of the affected ships have no ties to the conflict, including the recently struck Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, now being salvaged to prevent a major oil spill.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
