Houthi militants, backed by Iran, launched a missile from Yemen that hit Tel Aviv early Saturday morning, causing at least 16 people to be lightly wounded. This is the sixth attack in a month-long barrage of missiles against Israel.
The Israeli military scrambled air defenses but failed to intercept the missile, which landed in a playground in central Tel Aviv. Air-raid sirens were triggered, ordering hundreds of thousands of residents to seek shelter in reinforced shelters.
The Houthi group claimed the attack was to support the Palestinian cause and target a “military installation.” Iranian-backed militias have traded fire with Israel since October 2023, prompting airstrikes by the US and its allies against the Houthis.
The US military struck Yemen on Saturday, targeting Houthi facilities and downing drones and an anti-ship missile. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that any harm to Israel would come at a “heavy price.”
Israel has already fought conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon since October 2023. The ongoing attacks have raised concerns about the security of Israel’s defenses, which have been breached multiple times by Houthi drones and missiles.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/20/world/middleeast/israel-tel-aviv-missile-yemen.html