In A First, Houthi Missile Reaches Central Israel: 'More Strikes Will Follow'

No injuries were reported in the attack, but Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu sought to warn the Houthis that the country exacts 'a heavy price for any attempt to harm us'.

The Iran-backed Houthis fired a surface-to-surface missile (SSM) into central Israel on Sunday morning. CNN reported that the area where the missile landed in central Israel is generally considered safe from enemy projectiles. The Houthis claimed the hypersonic missile managed to evade Israeli interception attempts, while the Israel military said the projectile appeared to have disintegrated in the air, The Times of Israel noted. No injuries were reported in the attack, but Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu sought to warn the Houthis that the country exacts "a heavy price for any attempt to harm us".

According to Reuters, after the air raid sirens sounded around 6.35 am (local time) in Tel Aviv and across central Israel just moments before the missile landed, residents scrambled into shelters. 

According to The Times Of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the explosions that were heard were due to Israeli military interceptions. The IDF is still assessing the results of these interceptions.

The SSM is believed to have struck close to the Ben Shemen forest, sparking a fire near Kfar Daniel, a few kilometres southeast of Ben Gurion Airport. 

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from the east and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported," the Israel military said, as quoted by Reuters.

Nassurdin Amer, the deputy head of the Houthi media office, claimed in a post on X that the Yemeni missile had successfully reached Israel after "20 missiles failed to intercept" it, describing it as the "beginning". 

CNN reported that a spokesman for the Houthis confirmed the attack, "claiming that the group used a 'new hypersonic ballistic missile' and warning that Israel should expect more such strikes as the first anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas approaches".

In another development, according to CNN, the IDF reported that 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel’s northern region. While some were intercepted, others landed in open areas, causing no significant injuries. The military said an explosive drone had crossed from Lebanon into the northern town of Metula, though no damage was caused.

Tensions between Israel, Yemen and Lebanon have been escalating for months as Israel has waged its war on Hamas in Gaza after the militant group’s October 7 attacks.