Houthis Claim New Missile Strike on Israel
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Synopsis
On April 26, the Houthis from Yemen claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting Israel, leading to sirens sounding in southern regions. This strike was labeled a response to Israeli actions in Gaza, with further threats of escalation until hostilities cease.
Key Takeaways
- Houthis targeted Israeli Negev region.
- Missile intercepted before entering Israeli territory.
- Response to Israeli operations in Gaza.
- New IDF alert system activated.
- Ongoing Houthi attacks since November 2023.
Sanaa, April 26 (NationPress) Yemen's Houthis on Saturday took responsibility for a missile strike that reportedly set off alarms across southern Israel earlier today.
"We targeted the Israeli enemy's Nevatim Air Base in the Negev region with a hypersonic ballistic missile," which, according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, had "successfully hit the target," as stated in a televised announcement broadcast by Houthi-operated al-Masirah TV.
Sarea indicated that this action was in retaliation for "the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza," pledging to carry out further strikes until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian enclave ceases and the blockade is removed.
Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement confirming they intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.
No casualties were reported, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service.
With a new protocol recently implemented, the IDF's Home Front Command sent out an early alert via its app to extensive regions in southern and central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and occupied Jerusalem.
However, just three minutes later, alarms were activated solely in northern Negev desert regions of southern Israel, prompting hundreds of thousands to seek shelter.
The IDF confirmed that the missile was intercepted before it could enter Israeli airspace.
Later that morning, the IDF issued another statement indicating they had intercepted a drone launched from the east before it could breach Israeli territory, without sirens being activated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Houthi faction, which governs much of northern Yemen, has been striking Israeli targets since November 2023 to express solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
On April 25, the Houthis alleged that US warplanes had conducted 1200 airstrikes on Yemen since mid-March, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and extensive infrastructure damage.
In a press release, the group's foreign affairs authority claimed that US operations have destroyed "several civilian infrastructures, including residential areas, ports, health facilities, water tanks, and historical sites, in blatant violation of international law and humanitarian standards."
