People take shelter in a staircase of a hotel following an air raid alarm, in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 27, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
Despite the Israeli airstrikes in Yemen the evening before, the Houthi terror group launched another ballistic missile at central Israel early Friday morning, which was, again, shot down outside of Israeli airspace.
The IDF stated that a single missile was launched at Israel and intercepted high in the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, alarm sirens were once again triggered across central Israel for fear of falling missile shrapnel, sending millions of Israelis scrambling out of their beds and into bunkers.
Magen David Adom rescue services said that no injuries were reported as a direct result of the missile attack, but 18 people were lightly injured while rushing to a shelter, and two people suffered acute anxiety attacks.
The spokesman for the Iran-backed Houthi group, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that a Palestine 2 ballistic missile was launched at Ben Gurion International Airport, temporarily halting flights.
“The missile succeeded in reaching its target despite the enemy’s censorship, and the operation resulted in casualties and the cessation of navigation at the airport,” the terrorists claimed.
Saree also claimed that a drone struck a “vital target” in the Tel Aviv area, despite Israeli authorities reporting no such incident in the past day. He also claimed that a container ship off the Yemeni coast was attacked by several drones.
Just hours earlier, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The IDF said the targets included “military infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime for its military activities in both the Sana’a International Airport and the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations.”
The IDF also struck Houthi military infrastructure in the Al-Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Kanatib ports on the Western coast.
Israeli jet taking off before airstrikes in Yemen (Photo: IDF)
According to Ynet News, the latest strikes were intended to establish an air and sea blockade of the Houthi-controlled region in Yemen, effectively cutting off all arms supply routes from Iran.
The report added that the Houthis still possess local missile production capabilities, but not at an industrial level. However, the group’s drone production capabilities are still at a level that enables it to continue to launch drones on a daily basis.
IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar warned on Thursday evening, “We have now seen a tangible demonstration of what we are capable of, we are capable of much more.”
Thursday’s strikes were the first time Israel attacked the Sana’a International Airport.
According to Kan News’ Arab Affairs Correspondent Roee Kais, the airport is one of the Houthis’ most important symbols and an important bargaining chip in negotiations with Saudi Arabia, as well as the entrepot for weapons and humanitarian aid, whose control allows the Houthis to expand their power in Yemen.
The Houthis have launched over 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year, according to the IDF.
Due to an increase in attacks in recent weeks, the Israeli government is reportedly weighing its military options for dealing with the threat.
According to local media reports, Israeli leaders are debating an escalation in strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which is said to be the strategy favored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or to strike against Iran directly, as the initiator of the attacks, said to be favored by Mossad Director David Barnea.
