Israel intercepts missile fired from Yemen by Houthi rebels

The Israeli army intercepted a missile from Yemen on Tuesday. Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, intensifying regional tensions.

The Israeli military announced Tuesday that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen after air raid sirens were heard in Jerusalem by journalists. The attack was claimed by the Houthi rebels, who control large swathes of Yemen.

The Iranian-backed insurgents said they had targeted "several sensitive targets around Jerusalem" with a ballistic missile. They also reported drone attacks targeting Ramon Airport and the Eilat region in southern Israel. Since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Israel and merchant ships linked to it off the coast of Yemen, claiming to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.