Israel’s military reported that a missile launched from Yemen had struck the central region of Tel Aviv, resulting in 16 individuals being lightly injured. The national medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA), stated that the injuries were caused by glass shards from shattered windows following the explosion. The Israeli military confirmed the projectile had been intercepted unsuccessfully by its defense systems. This attack marks the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes and counterstrikes between Yemen’s Huthi rebels and Israel, which has heightened tensions in the region.
The missile attack from Yemen comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has seen heightened hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militants. The Huthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group based in Yemen, have made it clear that their actions are motivated by a desire to show solidarity with Palestinians. In a recent statement, the group declared its intention to continue military operations until the “aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted.” This resolve was underscored by the group’s vow to keep up missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory.
Saturday’s missile was fired from Yemen in the early hours of the morning, and despite Israeli military efforts to intercept it, the projectile managed to hit central Tel Aviv. According to the Israeli military’s Telegram channel, sirens had sounded in central Israel just before the missile struck, signaling a warning to civilians of the impending attack. As is typical in such instances, Israeli air defense systems attempted to intercept the missile, but they failed to prevent the strike, which resulted in minor casualties.
MDA reported that all 16 individuals injured were treated for light wounds, mostly caused by debris from the blast. The victims were primarily affected by flying glass from nearby buildings damaged by the missile’s impact. One medic, Yosef Kourdi, described the scene as chaotic, recalling hearing a loud explosion followed by significant damage to surrounding structures.
While the attack on Tel Aviv was the most recent in a series of missile strikes from the Huthis, Israel’s retaliation has been swift and severe. In response to ongoing missile launches, Israel has targeted several strategic locations in Yemen, including ports and energy facilities under the control of the Huthis. The latest Israeli air strikes, on Thursday, December 19, hit Yemeni facilities in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. These strikes followed a missile fired by the Huthis, which Israel successfully intercepted, although debris from the intercepted missile caused damage to a school in Israel.
The ongoing conflict between the Huthis and Israel has also extended beyond land-based missile attacks, with the Huthis regularly targeting maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These attacks have drawn responses from both the U.S. and British military forces, which have carried out retaliatory strikes on Huthi positions in Yemen.
Despite the violence, the Huthis remain resolute in their position, continuing to strike Israel in the name of Palestinian solidarity. Their leader, Abdul Malik al-Huthi, condemned Israeli airstrikes in Yemen, calling them “aggression” and accusing Israel of targeting civilians. According to al-Huthi, the most recent Israeli strikes on December 19 resulted in the deaths of nine civilians in Yemen.
As Israel and Yemen’s Huthi rebels continue their military operations against one another, the wider geopolitical situation remains tense. The actions of the Huthis, supported by Iran, underscore the complexity of the regional dynamics, where multiple conflicts overlap, creating further instability in the Middle East. With the recent missile strikes and counterstrikes, the conflict seems far from resolution, and both sides remain determined to continue their respective military campaigns. The international community watches closely, hoping for a de-escalation of the violence, but as of now, the outlook remains grim.
