A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia triggered sirens across central Israel in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in the second such attack in a span of hours. The Israel Defense Forces reported multiple attempts to intercept the missile, which it said were “likely” successful.
The sirens, which sounded just after 3 a.m., startled millions of residents in the Gush Dan, Jerusalem Foothills and Sharon regions. Landings and takeoffs at Ben Gurion Airport were briefly suspended.
Eleven people sustained injuries while rushing to shelters, with four individuals experiencing anxiety-related symptoms, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service
According to the Israel Police, missile debris hit private residences in Mevo Beitar and Tzur Hadassah in the Jerusalem area. They also released an image of a large cylinder, identified as part of the Houthi missile, embedded in the roof of a home. Bomb disposal experts and other police forces were deployed to the affected sites.
A Houthi military spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, stating on Tuesday morning that it had targeted “the Israeli enemy’s defense ministry in Jaffa” with a ballistic missile.
The attack came just hours after the IDF shot down a missile launched at central Israel from Yemen by Houthi terrorists on Monday night, triggering air-raid sirens throughout Samaria, the army said.
“Following alerts that were activated a short time ago in several areas of the country, the air force intercepted one missile launched from Yemen,” the IDF stated. “The missile was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory; the alerts were activated according to policy.”
According to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service, no immediate reports were received of injuries from the interception.
Earlier on Monday, an IAF helicopter intercepted a Houthi suicide drone over the country’s south.
On Jan. 8, Israeli air-defense systems shot down three Houthi drones launched from Yemen, with the military publishing video of one of the interceptions over the Mediterranean Sea.
Another UAV was intercepted over the Mediterranean earlier in the day, and a drone was shot down by IAF helicopters, triggering air-raid sirens in Gvulot, a kibbutz in the northwestern Negev.
Since the start of the Swords of Iron war on Oct. 7, 2023, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched around 40 surface-to-surface missiles and 320 UAVs toward Israel, according to the military.
In response to the attacks, the IAF hit Houthi targets on Yemen’s western coast and inland on Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday afternoon that “just as we promised, the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us,” according to a translation of his remarks published by his office.
