JERUSALEM, Sept 15 (Askume) – Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen launched a surface-to-surface missile on Sunday that reached central Israel for the first time and landed in a deserted area without causing any casualties.
Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and central Israel before the missile strikes at 6:35 a.m. local time (0335 GMT), prompting residents to flee to shelters. The military said the blast came from a missile interceptor.
The Israeli military said that “shortly ago, after an alarm was sounded in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was detected entering central Israel from the east and landing in an open area.”
Nasreddin Amir, deputy director of the Houthi media office, posted on Twitter on Sunday that a Yemeni missile had reached Israel “after 20 missiles failed”, describing it as a “beginning”.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the group said its military spokesperson would soon provide details about “qualitative operations targeting internal Zionist institutions.”
Askume saw thick smoke rising from an open field in central Israel, but it was not immediately possible to determine whether the fire was caused by a missile or fragments of the interceptor.
Sunday’s attack marked the first time the Houthis have used missiles in Israeli airspace. They have repeatedly attacked Israel since the Gaza war began last October in what they say is an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. Most of these missiles have been shot down, although one in March fell in an open field near the Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat.
In July, a Houthi armed drone attacked Tel Aviv, killing one person and wounding four others. The attack was the first foreign drone attack on Tel Aviv since Israel launched a massive airstrike on Houthi military positions near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, killing six people and wounding 80 others.
The Israeli military also said that 40 missiles were fired from Lebanon towards Israel on Sunday and that these missiles were either intercepted or fell in open areas.
“There were no reports of any injuries,” the army said.
