In a recent escalation of the conflict between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Israel, a missile launched from Yemen struck the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area. The attack, claimed by the Houthis, follows a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes on Yemen earlier this week.
The Israeli military reported the incident on Saturday, stating that a projectile from Yemen was detected after air raid sirens sounded in central Israel. Despite multiple attempts, the missile was not intercepted. Yemen’s Houthi spokesperson later confirmed that the missile targeted a military site in Jaffa.
Emergency services in Israel, including Magen David Adom (MDA), confirmed that 16 individuals sustained mild injuries caused by shattered glass from nearby buildings. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in this attack.
Context of the Recent Attacks
The Houthi missile strike on Tel Aviv comes in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hodeidah. These airstrikes, carried out on Thursday, reportedly killed nine people. The Israeli strikes were in retaliation for an earlier Houthi missile launch on the same day, which Israel successfully intercepted.
Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the initial missile strike, stating they had targeted “specific and sensitive military sites” in the Jaffa district of Tel Aviv.
Growing Tensions and Regional Implications
Since Israel’s military operations in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack, Houthi rebels have intensified their attacks against Israel. These include missile strikes, drone attacks, and assaults on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis argue that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians, as the war on Gaza continues to claim thousands of civilian lives.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 45,000 people, predominantly women and children, according to reports. In response, the Houthis have vowed to continue their operations against Israel until the blockade on Gaza is lifted and military aggression ceases.
Previous Attacks
The recent missile strike is not the first Houthi action targeting Israel. On December 9, a drone attack claimed by the Houthis damaged the top floor of a residential building in Yavne, central Israel, though no injuries were reported. Earlier in July, a Houthi drone attack in Tel Aviv resulted in the death of an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port.
Additionally, Houthi forces have targeted shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, leading to military responses from the United States and occasionally the United Kingdom.
As tensions continue to rise, the conflict between Israel and Houthi forces adds another layer of complexity to the broader regional dynamics already strained by the war in Gaza.
