Yemen's Houthis Fire Hyper-Sonic Missile at Israel, Causing Tel Aviv Sirens

Dec 16, 2024, 05:45 PM

A ballistic missile launched from Yemen by the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was intercepted by Israel's Arrow missile defense system above Jordan. The missile did not enter Israeli territory, but the interception caused sirens to sound in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas due to concerns over falling debris. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued his testimony in the Tel Aviv District Court, which was held in an underground bomb-shelter, unaffected by the missile alert. The launch led to a temporary halt in air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport. The Houthis claimed the missile targeted a military site in Jaffa, as part of their fifth phase of escalation in support of the Gaza War. No injuries were reported from the incident, and the Houthis also claimed to have carried out a joint drone operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. This incident marks the latest in a series of missile and drone attacks from Yemen targeting Israel since November, with the Houthis employing hyper-sonic missiles in their military escalation.