Houthis fire missile at central Israel for fourth time this week; IDF intercepts

For the fourth time in less than a week, Yemen’s Houthi rebel group launched a ballistic missile at central Israel, prompting widespread sirens and sending millions to bomb shelters early Wednesday morning.

Israeli air defenses successfully intercepted the missile, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The attack is part of an escalating campaign by the Iran-backed Houthis, who claim to be acting in solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Sirens blared across large areas of central Israel under a new Home Front Command policy to expand alert zones following recent delays in warnings.

Nine people sustained injuries while rushing to shelters, and two others were treated for acute anxiety, the Magen David Adom ambulance service reported.

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A large fragment of an interceptor missile landed in the yard of a home in Be’er Ya’akov, causing minor damage but no injuries. Other fragments were found in the Shfela region and Modi’in.

Mor Steinberg-Golan, a Be’er Ya’akov resident, described the frightening experience: “We saw bits of the interception, as big as me, waiting in the yard. It demonstrates the importance of staying in a protected space.”

Houthi official Hezam al-Asad taunted Israelis on social media, writing in Hebrew: “How long can four million people be in shelters?” He added, “Run to the shelters; we repeatedly warned you to stop killing Gaza’s children.”

Over the past 10 days, the Houthis have launched five ballistic missiles and at least four drones at Israel, with varying degrees of success. Saturday’s missile strike in Jaffa injured 16 people and caused property damage, while a previous attack in Ramat Gan collapsed a school building.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to address the Houthi attacks. Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon has called for global condemnation, while Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to begin targeting Houthi leaders directly.

Israeli and U.S. forces have conducted strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, but the group shows no signs of relenting. The Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year, most of which were intercepted or neutralized before reaching their targets.

The Houthis’ attacks have also disrupted global shipping, targeting over 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea and forcing many carriers to reroute.

These attacks, initially aimed at Israel-linked ships, have impacted international trade routes and heightened tensions in the region.

The Houthis have vowed to continue their assaults until Israel’s military campaign in Gaza concludes.

Israel’s war against Hamas began on October 7, 2023, following a devastating Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages.