IDF downs Houthi terror missile ahead of Shavuot

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday afternoon intercepted a missile launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, according to the military.

Air-raid sirens sounded across central Israel—including in Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem area—prompting residents to seek shelter just hours before the start of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The attack came just days after the IDF intercepted a Houthi-fired ballistic missile on Thursday evening, forcing millions of civilians in the Tel Aviv area and along the densely populated coastal plain into bomb shelters. Alerts were reported as far north as Netanya and as far south as Gedera.

The Houthis have escalated their assaults on Israel in recent weeks, including a direct hit near Ben-Gurion International Airport on May 4.

Early on Tuesday morning, the IDF intercepted a ballistic missile that was also launched by the terror group. The attack triggered air-raid sirens in the Jordan Valley, as well as several towns in Samaria. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

Hours later, the military announced that the Air Force had shot down another ballistic missile launched at Israel from Yemen. No sirens sounded for that attack, in line with existing policy, the IDF said.

The Israeli Air Force struck Sana’a International Airport the next day, destroying the last operational aircraft used by the Houthis. The strike followed a previous IDF mission on May 6 that targeted the airport.

“This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we established: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the strike.