1 month ago
Last Updated:December 31, 2024, 10:56 IST
Israel intercepted a missile launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels on December 30, 2024, before it entered Israeli airspace. No casualties were reported.
Israeli security forces patrol the scene where fragments of a Huthi ballistic missile launched from Yemen at Israel crashed (Photo: AFP)
Israel on Monday intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it crossed into the country’s territory. There were no reports of any casualties in the attack, Israel’s emergency service provider, Magen David Adom was quoted by news agency AFP as saying.
According to The Times of Israel, the missile was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli airspace, and sirens sounded across the centre of the country shortly after 11.00 pm (local time) due to protocol for fear of falling debris.
The missile launch also caused brief interruptions at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, the Ynet news site reported, with arrivals and departures briefly halted due to fears of falling debris.
This came hours after Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations issued what he called a final warning to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants to halt their missile attacks on Israel, saying they risked the same “miserable fate" as Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad if they persisted.
The ambassador, Danny Danon, also warned Tehran that Israel can strike any target in the Middle East, including Iran. He added that Israel would not tolerate attacks by Iranian proxies.
In an X post, the Israel Defense Forces wrote, “Millions across Israel are currently running to shelter due to a projectile from Yemen".
“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (air force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory," the Israeli military said in a statement.
Videos widely shared on social media claimed to show a “ballistic missile launched at Israel from Yemen".
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been firing missiles and drones at Israel and ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in what they describe as solidarity with Palestinians since the war in the Gaza Strip broke out in October of last year.
In recent weeks, they have claimed to have fired several missiles at Israel, triggering retaliatory strikes from Israel targeting the rebels’ strategic assets and infrastructure.
The Huthis have controlled large parts of Yemen since seizing Sanaa and ousting the government in 2014.
They have stepped up their attacks since November’s ceasefire between Israel and another Iran-backed group, Hezbollah in Lebanon.
On December 28, Israel intercepted a similar missile launched from Yemen.
Israel has also struck Yemen, including targeting Sanaa’s international airport on December 26.
Location : First Published:December 31, 2024, 10:51 IST
News world Video: Israel Intercepts Missile From Yemen Hours After Warning Houthi Militants To Halt Attacks
