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Houthis Fire Hypersonic Missile at Israel; WHO Chief Evacuated Amid Airstrikes on Sanaa

Dec 27, 2024, 06:44 PM

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a hypersonic ballistic missile named 'Palestine-2' targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on December 27, 2024, according to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed the missile hit its target despite air defenses, causing casualties and suspending all flights. However, the Israel Defense Forces reported that the missile was intercepted with no impact. The missile attack came hours after Israeli airstrikes hit the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport and other military sites in Yemen, including weapons manufacturing workshops and the airport's control tower. Footage circulating online purportedly shows World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at Sanaa airport during the airstrikes, with reports indicating he was evacuated from the area. Reports suggest that shrapnel from the airstrike hit the cabin crew of a UN World Food Program aircraft near the tower. In response to the airstrikes, the Houthis accused the United States and the United Kingdom of conducting new attacks on Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Multiple strikes were reported on December 27, targeting Houthi military sites, including weapons workshops and various areas of the city. The escalation marks an increase in hostilities between Israel and the Houthis, with the latter declaring support for Palestine and launching attacks against Israel.