Yemen rebels claim ballistic missile attack on Israel

Yemen rebels claim ballistic missile attack on Israel
by AFP Staff Writers
Sanaa (AFP) Dec 25, 2024

Yemen's Huthi rebels said Wednesday that they had fired a ballistic missile at central Israel, with Israeli forces saying they intercepted the attack.

The missile was aimed at the Tel Aviv area, the Iran-backed Huthis said. The Israelis reported it was shot down before it entered Israeli territory.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces targeted a military target of the Israeli enemy in the occupied area of Yaffa (Tel Aviv) using a hypersonic ballistic missile, type Palestine 2," a Huthi military statement said.

"The operation has successfully achieved its objectives," it added.

The Huthis have repeatedly launched missiles at Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago.

Most have been intercepted, but on Saturday an attack that hit Tel Aviv wounded 16 people, prompting a warning from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We will act against the Huthis... with force, determination and sophistication," he said in a video statement on Sunday.

In the latest attack, air raid sirens sounded over a wide swathe of central Israel as a precaution against falling debris.

But the army said it had shot down the projectile before it entered Israel. No injuries were reported, according to Israel's emergency medical services.

"A missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the Israeli army wrote on Telegram.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army also said it had intercepted a projectile fired from Yemen.

In July, a Huthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah.

The Huthis have also regularly targeted shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, leading to retaliatory strikes by US and sometimes British forces.

Israeli army says intercepted missile from Yemen
Jerusalem (AFP) Dec 25, 2024 - The Israeli army said Wednesday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the country from Yemen.

Air raid sirens sounded over a wide swathe of central Israel as a precaution against falling debris, but the army said it shot down the projectile before it entered Israeli territory.

No injuries were reported, according to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's emergency medical services.

"A missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the Israeli army wrote on the Telegram social media platform. "Sirens regarding rocket and missile launches were activated due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception."

On Tuesday, the Israeli army also said it had intercepted a projectile fired from Yemen.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted, but on Saturday an attack on Tel Aviv injured 16 people.

In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to the rebels.

"I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Huthis, because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force," Netanyahu said, "even if it takes time".