Yemen’s Houthis launch rare missile attack on northern Israel

The Israeli military claimed that Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down the projectile without hurting anyone as they have launched a ballistic missile towards northern Israel.

The Israeli army reported that the missile reportedly triggered air raid sirens in Haifa, Krayot, and other locations west of the Sea of Galilee shortly after 4am local time (01:00 GMT).

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who continue to be the target of an intense airstrikes campaign, are a rare breed in this region.

In what they claim is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians, the Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel since the conflict started in October 2023.

Israel has repeatedly attacked Houthi targets inside Yemen, including in Sanaa, the country’s capital, and has taken control of large tracts of the country.

Although it can take them hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults, the Houthis did not immediately make the claim.

US bombings

On Wednesday morning, US air strikes, which began on March 15 and were almost daily, continued to target the Houthis. The Houthis reported that US forces attacked the governorates of Hodeidah, Marib, and Saada.

The Houthis in Marib referred to a strike that had previously been targeted by the US against telecommunications equipment.

The Houthis have increased their focus on US drones that are hover over the country in response. Late on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Houthis reported that rebels shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone over the northwest of Hajjah governorate.

MQ-9 Reaper drones can fly at altitudes higher than 40 000 feet (12, 100 meters) and stay in the air for more than 30 hours, for about $30 million each.

For years, US forces and the CIA have flown them over Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In the past ten years of the Yemen war, the Houthis claim to have shot 26 MQ-9s.

The US military acknowledged the drone-related report, but it was too late to make further comments.