The Houthis launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at central Israel in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 11 months, according to Yemeni military spokesman Yahya Sarea. He stated that the missile, covering a distance of 2,040 kilometers in under 12 minutes, hit its target.
Israel’s military, however, claimed the missile landed in an open area, causing no injuries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the Houthis would face severe consequences for the strike, saying, “They should have known by now that we impose a heavy price for any attempt to harm us.” Photographers on the scene reported firefighters extinguishing a fire near Lod and damage to a train station in Modin, located about 20 kilometers from Tel Aviv.
The missile, according to Houthi military sources, targeted an Israeli military position near Jaffa, and Israel’s defenses reportedly failed to intercept it. Hamas praised the Houthis for the attack, warning that Israel will not experience security as long as its offensive against Gaza continues.
Meanwhile, Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan criticized the United States for not pressuring Israel enough to broker a truce. Speaking from Istanbul, Hamdan said the American administration is justifying Israel’s avoidance of a commitment to peace. Despite losses, Hamdan emphasized that Hamas has the resources to continue resisting, stating, “There were sacrifices… but we have gained experience and recruited new generations into the resistance.”
In a separate event, Israel dropped leaflets over a Lebanese border village, instructing residents to evacuate. Israeli military later clarified that the action had been carried out without proper authorization. This was the first such evacuation warning during 11 months of cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides since October 2023. Netanyahu declared that the situation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon must change and warned of a shift in the balance of power on Israel’s northern border.
