Houthis Launch ‘Hypersonic’ Missile Targeting Tel Aviv

The Houthis claim to have fired a ‘hypersonic’ missile at Tel Aviv, escalating tensions in the region amidst ongoing conflict.

The Houthi movement, which holds significant control over parts of Yemen, announced on Monday that it had successfully targeted an area near Tel Aviv with a hypersonic ballistic missile. According to Israel, the missile was intercepted before impact and did not result in any casualties.

The Yemeni Shia group has imposed a blockade on the Red Sea and for months has been launching missiles and drones at Israel in an attempt to stop West Jerusalem’s military operations against Gaza, the Palestinian enclave.

In a televised address on Monday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that they had successfully struck a “military target” near Tel Aviv with a hypersonic missile, declaring the operation successful.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace. Air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and nearby areas due to concerns about potential injuries from falling debris.

The IDF reported that the missile debris landed in the West Bank without causing harm to anyone.

According to the Israeli ambulance service, five individuals sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter in Tel Aviv, Petah Tikvah, Kfar Saba, Holon, and Em Hamoshavot.

Since November, the Houthis have targeted Israel with at least five drones and six ballistic missiles. Last week, a drone hit a building in Yavne, resulting in substantial property damage but no casualties. Israeli media reported that the IDF acknowledged an error in assessment due to which the UAV was incorrectly classified as non-threatening, causing sirens not to be activated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is reportedly planning to initiate another strike on Yemen in retaliation for the missile attacks. Israel previously conducted bombings against the Houthis in July and September.

According to local media, the United States and the United Kingdom targeted Houthi locations in Hodeidah province on Sunday.

Israel declared war on Hamas following a series of raids by the Gaza-based organization from the enclave on October 7 last year. In response, the Houthis began targeting Israeli ships attempting to enter or exit the Red Sea and eventually extended their attacks to vessels linked with both the US and UK. This Houthi harassment has significantly disrupted global shipping operations.