Israel reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen on Sunday, following the Yemeni Houthi movement’s claim of firing multiple missiles at the Israeli city of Eilat. This escalation came after Israel conducted its first public strike against the Iran-aligned group the day before.
In response to Israel’s assault on Gaza, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel and disrupted global trade through the Red Sea, further destabilizing the Middle East. Israel states that the Houthis have launched 200 attacks since the Gaza conflict began, with many intercepted and most not deadly.
However, a rare Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv on Friday killed one person, prompting Israel to launch its first strikes against the group on Saturday. The airstrikes near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah resulted in six fatalities and more than 80 injuries, mostly civilians, according to local medics.
Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam announced on Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV that they would continue to target Israel, saying, “no red lines… all sensitive institutions… will be a target for us.”
The Israeli military confirmed that its Arrow 3 missile defense system intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen on Sunday before it entered Israeli territory. Air raid sirens in Eilat had earlier sent residents running for shelter.
Sunday’s incident extends the recent surge in violence between Israel and the Houthis, which began with the drone strike on Tel Aviv. The Israeli air raid on Hodeidah resulted in significant casualties and damage, with strikes hitting an oil facility and power station according to Houthi-run media. Israel claims Hodeidah port has been used by the Houthis to receive weapons from Iran.
The exchanges are part of a broader regional conflict, with Iran-aligned groups like the Houthis launching attacks in support of Palestinians and Hamas, the group governing Gaza. The United States and its allies support Israel and provide it with weapons.
The Gaza war started on October 7 after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel has since bombed and invaded Gaza, resulting in nearly 39,000 deaths according to health officials in Gaza.
The Houthis, controlling much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have previously claimed attacks on Eilat and other Israeli targets in retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza. They have also disrupted Red Sea shipping routes for months. Allies of Hamas include Iran-backed groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iraqi paramilitaries.
