Israel Claims to Have Intercepted a Missile Launched from Yemen

The Israeli army announced that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen into its territory. This action coincides with escalating tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis, amidst threats from U.S. President Donald Trump against Tehran for supporting this militia group. The Israeli army stated that following the missile launch, alarm sirens sounded in several areas of the country, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The Israeli army added in a statement: "The missile launched from Yemen was destroyed by the air force before entering Israeli territory. Alarm sirens were activated according to protocol." The Israeli ambulance service reported that no serious injuries were reported following the missile launch. According to Reuters, a spokesperson for the Houthi militants stated in a televised statement that they were not affected by the waves of U.S. attacks and had launched a ballistic missile towards Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The U.S. attacks, which began on Saturday due to Houthi assaults on ships in the Red Sea, represent the largest military operation by the U.S. in the Middle East since Donald Trump took office as President in January. The U.S. attacks on Yemen have left at least 31 dead. Trump stated that Iran is responsible for the Houthis' subsequent attacks; Tehran's response came as Trump threatened on March 18 to hold Iran accountable for any future Houthi attacks and warned of severe consequences. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by saying that the Houthis are "independent" and make their own strategic and operational decisions. Recently, the Houthis threatened to increase their attacks, including on Israeli targets, in response to the U.S. campaign. The group announced on Tuesday that they had launched a ballistic missile towards Israel and would retaliate against renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza in the coming days. Since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas and from late 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on ships, claiming that this action was in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. These attacks have disrupted global trade and prompted the U.S. military to initiate an expensive campaign to intercept missiles. The Houthis are part of what is referred to as the "Resistance Axis," supported by the Islamic Republic, targeting American and Israeli interests in the region.