Israeli army says it intercepted missile fired from Yemen, Houthis claim responsibility

The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen toward Israel, where air raid sirens were triggered. The sirens sounded notably in Jerusalem, according to AFP journalists. The Israeli army said in a statement that it had “intercepted” the missile. Emergency services from Magen David Adom — Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross — reported no casualties.

On Thursday, the Israeli army shot down two missiles fired from Yemen, and emergency services said one person was injured while trying to take shelter.

Since the start of the Gaza war — triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — Yemen’s Houthi rebels, claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians, have claimed dozens of missile and drone attacks on Israel, the vast majority of which have been intercepted. They have also attacked ships they deem linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen, particularly in the Red Sea, through which about 12% of global trade passes.

On Monday, the Houthis announced they would impose a “naval blockade” on Haifa, Israel’s main port, warning that any ships heading there would now be considered “targets.” Backed by Iran — Israel’s archrival— the Houthis control large parts of war-torn Yemen.

On May 4, a missile fired by the Yemeni rebels hit the area around Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv for the first time. In response to the attacks, the Israeli army has conducted several strikes in recent months on Houthi targets in Yemen, including ports and Sana’a airport..

Israël : L'armée dit avoir intercepté un missile tiré du Yémen, les houthis revendiquent