Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Yemen’s Houthi rebels will face severe consequences after a missile launched by the group struck central Israel early Sunday. The missile, which landed in an uninhabited area, marks the first time Houthi fire has reached so deep into Israeli territory, approximately 2,000 kilometers from Yemen.
Israel’s military confirmed the missile evaded air defense systems, with fragments discovered in areas near a railway station in Modiin and open ground near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said repeated attempts to intercept the missile failed, possibly due to the Houthis’ use of a new type of hypersonic missile, which the group claims was deployed in this strike.
The Houthis, an Iranian-aligned militia, said the attack was in solidarity with Palestinians and warned of further strikes as the first anniversary of the 7 October attacks approaches. While the missile did not cause casualties, damage was reported, likely due to Israel’s own interceptor systems.
Netanyahu stated the strike highlighted Israel’s ongoing battle against what he described as Iran’s “axis of evil,” which includes groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the Houthis. “Those who harm us will pay a heavy price,” he said, adding that Hamas is already experiencing the consequences of Israeli retaliation following their 7 October attacks, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and hundreds being taken hostage.
In response to Sunday’s missile, Israeli jets launched retaliatory airstrikes on the Yemeni city of Hodeidah, hitting a major oil storage facility. This follows a series of previous Houthi attacks on Israel, including a deadly drone strike in Tel Aviv in July.
The escalation comes as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 41,200 fatalities since the operation began.
