Houthis from Yemen Announce Pre-Dawn Missile Launch Intercepted by Israel
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Sanaa, Dec 25 (NationPress) The Houthi faction in Yemen declared that it had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile directed at Tel Aviv, an operation that Israel confirmed was intercepted successfully.
In a statement broadcasted by the Houthi-operated al-Masirah TV on Tuesday, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea proclaimed, "In solidarity with the Palestinian populace in Gaza, we targeted a military site in Tel Aviv with our hypersonic ballistic missile."
He asserted that his faction would persist in launching further assaults against Israel, and emphasized that the airstrikes led by the US on their positions in Yemen would not deter them, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
He stated, "We stand completely prepared to counter the Israeli-American-British aggression against Yemen."
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the successful interception of a missile fired by the Houthis.
The missile, intended for Tel Aviv, activated air-raid sirens throughout central and southern Israel, compelling millions to seek refuge shortly before 2 a.m. local time (0000 GMT).
The IDF declared, "A projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace," adding that the sirens were set off as a precautionary measure due to potential falling debris from the interception.
This missile strike occurred a day after the Houthis executed a drone attack on Israel, which also faced interception, according to the IDF. The Houthis have intermittently targeted Israel since October 2023 in support of the Palestinian cause in Gaza.
In response, Israel has conducted several extensive airstrikes on Yemen, with the latest occurring on Thursday.
On the same Tuesday, Yemen's pro-government forces reported that eight Houthi combatants were killed and 15 others sustained injuries during intense confrontations that erupted in the southwestern province of Taiz.
In a brief press release, the pro-government forces described the Houthis' recent attempts to breach fortified military positions in northwestern Taiz as a "failed assault."
Eyewitnesses reported witnessing Houthi medical personnel evacuating the injured from the combat zone and transferring them to medical facilities outside Taiz.
