Jerusalem/Sanaa: Israel’s military announced on Saturday the detection of a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory — the first such attack since the war with Iran began a month ago.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) “identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory,” according to a military statement cited by news agency AFP. Israel’s air defenses moved swiftly to intercept it, and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
This marked the inaugural missile announcement from Yemen since Tel Aviv and Washington conducted joint strikes on Iran on February 28, igniting a region-wide conflict now entering its second month.
The Houthis, backed by Tehran, swiftly claimed responsibility hours after the IDF’s detection. They termed the strike as retaliation for “Israel’s continued targeting of infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories.”
The attack followed a stark Houthi warning issued on Friday, pledging direct involvement if US-Israeli aggression against their ally persisted, or if additional countries entered the fray. “We affirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention,” the group stated.
The Houthis also cautioned against using the Red Sea — previously a site of their ship attacks — for “hostile operations,” threatening to join the war in such a scenario.
The Houthis routinely targeted Red Sea shipping and launched missile and drone assaults on Israel to show solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s Gaza offensive.
Israel and the US have countered these disruptions with repeated strikes on war-torn Yemen over the past two years, resulting in dozens of deaths.
Saturday’s launch comes in the midst of heightened US military posture in the region under President Donald Trump. Latest reports indicate the Department of Defense is considering deploying up to 10,000 troops, including 5,000 US Marines and thousands of paratroopers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division.
