IDF Reports Interception of Missile Launched from Yemen
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Jerusalem, Dec 28 (NationPress) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced early Saturday that they successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen aimed at the Jerusalem region.
The IDF's statement noted that "a projectile fired from Yemen was intercepted before it could enter Israeli airspace."
The missile triggered air defense sirens in the Jerusalem area, the Judean Lowlands, and the Dead Sea, prompting hundreds of thousands of residents to seek shelter shortly after 2:10 a.m. local time (0010 GMT), according to the IDF.
On Thursday, Israeli air force jets executed multiple strikes on Yemeni targets, including the international airport in Sanaa and power facilities. These airstrikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, as reported by the Xinhua news agency, referencing Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.
Previously, on December 27, Yemen's Houthi group proclaimed that they had launched a 'hypersonic ballistic missile' targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, claiming success in hitting their target.
Military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated in a televised address on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV that the attack resulted in casualties and disrupted air operations at the airport.
"The missile successfully reached its target despite the enemy's attempts at concealment. The operation led to casualties and the halting of air traffic at the airport," Sarea asserted.
However, the IDF countered that they had intercepted the missile. They acknowledged that air traffic was suspended for 30 minutes, while Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service reported that 18 individuals sustained minor injuries while heading to shelters.
The Houthis also took responsibility for further attacks, including a drone strike on what they termed a 'vital' site in Tel Aviv and a vessel named Santa Ursula near Yemen's Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea. Sarea claimed the vessel was targeted due to its alleged connections with Israeli ports.
"The Israeli aggression against civilian properties in Sanaa and Hodeidah will only strengthen our resolve to support the Palestinian people," Sarea stated, promising to escalate attacks on Israeli targets until the "aggression against Gaza ceases and the blockade is lifted."
Israel had initiated airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport and facilities in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported that the strikes caused considerable damage, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries, including a United Nations staff member, according to Xinhua news agency.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was present at Sanaa International Airport, preparing to board a UN flight when Israeli airstrikes impacted the area. He confirmed that he and his team emerged unscathed from the strikes.
Ghebreyesus was in Sanaa for discussions aimed at securing the release of UN personnel who had been detained by the Houthi group earlier in the year. He urged the Houthi leadership to release the detained employees without further delay.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has also voiced criticism of the escalating violence, calling for compliance with international law.
