Israel says ballistic missile from Yemen intercepted by air defenses

A ballistic missile was launched from Yemen toward Israel on the evening of December 30, prompting an air raid alert in the central part of the country. The target was intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems, reports the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

According to Israeli military officials, air raid sirens sounded in several areas of central Israel at around 11 PM on Monday (local time) due to a “projectile that was launched from Yemen.”

The IDF later confirmed that its air defense systems successfully intercepted the missile before it could “cross into Israeli territory.”

“Sirens were sounded due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception,” Israeli military officials added.

According to The Times of Israel reported that the projectile was a ballistic missile, likely launched by Houthi militants in Yemen.

Israeli media noted that Houthi militants fired a total of 11 ballistic missiles and at least nine drones toward Israel over the past month.

Magen David Adom emergency services reported that no injuries were reported as a result of the missile launch from Yemen toward central Israel.

However, medical personnel added that several people were affected by “acute anxiety” while rushing to bomb shelters.

Later reports revealed that fragments of the ballistic missile fell at the entrance to the Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef neighborhood near Jerusalem. No significant damage was reported.

בית שמש pic.twitter.com/R2ra1DkEfd

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Houthi attacks from Yemen on Israel

Houthi militants from Yemen have frequently launched attacks on Israeli territory. They justify their strikes as support for the terrorist organization Hamas, which carried out a large-scale assault on Israel last spring. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis have also targeted commercial ships and other vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

As previously reported, on December 19, Houthi militants launched another missile at Israel. The IDF’s air defense systems successfully intercepted the missile.

On December 24, Israel announced another missile attack from Yemen, which was also intercepted.

It was later revealed that during the interception of the missile attack, Israel used the THAAD missile defense system for the first time, which was provided by the United States.

Additionally, in early October, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel, which was successfully intercepted by the IDF’s air defense systems.

On September 15, a Houthi missile struck central Israel for the first time but was destroyed by air defense. Later in September, the Houthis also targeted Tel Aviv Airport with a missile.