Houthi terrorists launched a missile attack from Yemen, prompting air raid sirens across central Israel and the West Bank for the third consecutive day. The IDF intercepted the missile outside airspace, leading to flight delays but no reported injuries. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the Houthis will continue to face repercussions for their actions, amidst rising tensions in the region.
On Friday, air raid sirens activated in central Israel and the West Bank following a Houthi missile launch from Yemen, marking their third attack in three days. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted the missile outside the country’s airspace, leading to alerts about debris from interceptor missiles. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damages, and emergency services received no incident calls. However, multiple flights arriving at Ben Gurion Airport faced delays due to the situation.
The Houthis previously claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Thursday, stating that they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport with a ‘Palestine 2’ hypersonic ballistic missile. Spokesman Yahya Saree asserted, “the target was achieved,” positioning the strike as a retaliation for ongoing violence in Gaza. Consequently, several flights, including those from Abu Dhabi and London, were momentarily diverted before reporting safe landing.
During this missile attack, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was addressing the Knesset. When alerted to the situation, he curiously remarked, “How is it that we can’t hear anything?” as Knesset staff cautioned lawmakers about the missile threat. Protocol dictated that lawmakers would only evacuate if a specific alert for the parliament was issued at that moment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not present in the Knesset chamber during the attack, took precautions by moving to a secure area. Later, in an interview, he stated, “The Houthis are already paying — and they will pay more.” This attack followed another missile launched at Be’er Sheva earlier in the week, which had been intercepted by the Arrow air defense system, as the Houthis warned of more targets if hostilities persist.
The recent missile attacks by the Houthis highlight escalating tensions between Yemen and Israel, with significant implications for regional security. The rapid succession of attacks, along with the IDF’s interception efforts, underscores the need for vigilance in air defense measures. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s response reflects the ongoing complexities in addressing threats from non-state actors amid the broader geopolitical context in the region.
Original Source: www.ynetnews.com
