Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a warning to Yemen's Houthis after a missile was fired from Yemen and landed in central Israel. The projectile, fired at 6am local time on Sunday, most likely fragmented in mid-air before falling in an open area with no reported injuries.
The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the projectile was not a hypersonic missile.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will exact a heavy price for any attempts to harm the country, citing a previous Israeli attack on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah in response to a drone attack on Tel Aviv.
Following the missile strike, sirens rang across central and northern Israel, with some projectiles crossing into Israel from Lebanon. Israeli police are investigating the incident and working to isolate the impact site.
Iran's President denied providing hypersonic missiles to the Houthis, stating that they have the technology to produce them independently. The ongoing tensions have raised concerns of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Israel has been engaged in a multi-arena campaign against Iran's allies, including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The recent attacks have heightened fears of escalation and prompted warnings from world leaders.
The conflict between Israel, Yemen, and Lebanon has been escalating, with frequent drone and missile attacks targeting various regions. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further violence and instability in the region.