Official announcements from the Israeli government or international mediators

Israel Halts Flights After Intercepting Houthi Missile; Sirens Sound in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Jan 18, 2025, 08:30 AM

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, on Saturday morning after the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the missile, launched by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. Shrapnel from the intercepted missile fell near Beitar Illit and caused a fire in Be'er Ya'akov. Flights at Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily halted, and residents across affected areas sought shelter. The incident comes a day before a scheduled ceasefire is set to take effect in Gaza and follows previous attacks from Yemen over the past week, where three rockets and a drone were launched towards Israel. Some injuries were reported due to panic during the rush to bomb shelters, highlighting escalating regional tensions.