Sirens sounded in southern Israel on Tuesday after almost two months without alerts resulting from a ballistic missile launch from Yemen toward Israel. According to the IDF spokesperson, the missile was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force before it could cross into Israeli airspace.
Residents of southern Israel reported witnessing the missile in the air, south of Israeli territory, before an Arrow defense system missile struck and destroyed the incoming ballistic projectile. The interception was visible to many observers on the ground, who described seeing the engagement in the skies.
Magen David Adom emergency services reported that as of initial assessments, no physical injuries had been recorded from the incident, though several people were treated for anxiety-related symptoms.
The alerts marked the end of an extended period of calm along Israel's southern border regions, which had not experienced rocket-related warnings since mid-January. The IDF has not yet released information about whether any interceptions were attempted or if the projectile landed in Israeli territory.
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the launch of a military operation targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, stating that the US would not tolerate continued attacks by the Shiite militia on vessels in the Red Sea. Following the American strike, Israeli security officials were preparing for the possibility that the Houthis could resume launching attacks on Israel in the immediate future.
This incident represents the latest in a series of long-range attacks launched from Yemen since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. Previous launches from Yemen have included drones and missiles that traveled over 994 miles to reach Israeli territory.
