Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they have launched a hypersonic ballistic missile to strike central Israel for the first time.
In what marks a major escalation by the Iran-backed militia, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the terrifying missile was launched 2,040 kilometers (1,270 miles) in just 11 and a half minutes.
Although Israel said the missile missed its target and no casualties were reported, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would inflict a “heavy price” on the Houthis, who control northern Yemen.
After initially saying the missile had fallen in an open area, the Israeli military later said it had likely fragmented in the air and that fragments of interceptors had fallen in fields and near a railway station.
Air raid sirens had sounded in Tel Aviv and across central Israel moments before the strike at around 6.35am local time (3.35am GMT), sending residents running for cover.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have launched a hypersonic ballistic missile to strike central Israel for the first time. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea shared this photo of the apparent hypersonic missile today
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the terrifying missile was launched 2,040 kilometers (1,270 miles) in just 11 and a half minutes.
Response teams extinguished a fire in the Lod area near Tel Aviv in central Israel after the Houthis launched the missile.
An employee sweeps glass shards from an escalator damaged by a missile hit from Yemen, inside a train station in the Israeli town of Modin.
Loud bangs were heard as the missile appeared to pierce Israel’s Iron Dome and Reuters saw plumes of smoke rising from an open field in central Israel.
Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, nearly a year after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Netanyahu said the Houthis should have known Israel would demand a “heavy price” for attacks on Israel.
“Anyone who needs a reminder of that is invited to visit the port of Hodeida,” Netanyahu said, referring to an Israeli retaliatory airstrike on Yemen in July for a Houthi drone that hit Tel Aviv.
The Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is a show of solidarity with Palestinians since the Gaza war began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October.
The drone that first struck Tel Aviv in July killed one man and wounded four people. Israeli airstrikes in response to Houthi military targets near the port of Hodeidah killed six people and wounded 80.
Houthi missiles have not previously penetrated deep into Israeli airspace; the only one reported to have hit Israeli territory fell in an open area near the Red Sea port of Eilat in March.
Israel should expect more attacks in the future “as we approach the first anniversary of the October 7 operation, including the response to their aggression on the city of Hodeidah,” Sarea said.
The Israeli police bomb disposal unit examines the site of a missile strike near Kfar Daniel in central Israel
Plumes of smoke rise after a missile attack from Yemen on central Israel
A firefighter extinguishes a fire that broke out after the Houthis claimed to have launched a hypersonic missile
Houthi deputy press chief Nasruddin Amer said in a post on X on Sunday that the missile had reached Israel after “20 missiles failed to intercept it,” describing it as the “beginning.”
He added: ‘It covered a distance of 2,040 kilometers in 11 and a half minutes and caused a state of fear and panic among the Zionists as more than two million Zionists headed for the shelters for the first time in the history of the Israeli enemy.
‘Geographical challenges, US-British aggression and surveillance, espionage and interception systems will not prevent beloved Yemen from fulfilling its religious, moral and humanitarian duty in solidarity with the Palestinian people.’
The Israeli military also said 40 projectiles were fired toward Israel from Lebanon on Sunday and were either intercepted or landed in open areas.
“No injuries were reported,” the military said.
This comes amid fears that Russia may have handed over nuclear bomb secrets to Iran in exchange for missiles to bomb Ukraine.
A man in a crater runs away as plumes of smoke rise and flames erupt behind him.
Response teams extinguished a fire in the Lod area near Tel Aviv in central Israel
The Israel Police Bomb Disposal Unit examines the scene of a ground-to-ground missile impact near Kfar Daniel
The terrifying prospect was discussed during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Friday.
If confirmed, such a deal would cause great concern for Tehran, which is pressing ahead with its uranium enrichment program, a step toward developing a nuclear weapon.
British sources say alarm bells have been raised over Iran’s trade in nuclear technology, which is feared to be part of a deepening alliance between Tehran and Moscow.
Last week, the US and UK declassified crucial information revealing that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted a shipment of Fath-360 ballistic missiles from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Following the handover, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken shared a chilling warning during a visit to London with his British counterpart, David Lammy.
“For its part, Russia is sharing the technology that Iran is seeking — it’s a two-way street, including on nuclear issues — as well as some space information,” Blinken said, suggesting that Russia and Iran are engaged in destabilizing activities with global implications.