The Israeli military said it intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Friday, as the group vowed to continue its attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The latest escalation underscores the increasingly regional scope of the conflict, with military activity now spanning multiple countries.
According to the Israeli army, one of the intercepted missiles was aimed at the Ramat David airbase in northern Israel, while the second targeted the Tel Aviv area. The first was shot down by Israel’s aerial defense system, while the second was intercepted shortly after launch, though its destruction was still under assessment at the time of the report. The Israeli military reported no injuries or damage from the attempted strikes.
In a statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack and said that the missiles used were hypersonic, asserting that they had successfully hit their intended targets. The group also stated that its attacks would persist until Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has claimed over 34,000 lives, according to local health authorities.
“The Yemeni armed forces confirm the continuation of their military operations in support of the oppressed Palestinian people until the aggression is stopped and the siege on Gaza is lifted,” Saree said. The Houthis have been launching near-daily missile and drone attacks at Israel and U.S.-linked targets in the Red Sea region since late 2023, when Israel’s war in Gaza began following Hamas’s October 7 attack.
In response to the increased Houthi attacks, the United States carried out a series of airstrikes early Friday on Yemen’s Ras Issa oil port in the western Hodeidah province. These strikes targeted infrastructure previously hit last month, which had resulted in several deaths. According to reports, Friday’s strikes were aimed at preventing future missile launches and disrupting the group’s operational capabilities.
The U.S. military also announced an extension of the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, aimed at maintaining a strong naval presence amid mounting regional tensions. The Pentagon said this move reflects the U.S.’s commitment to safeguarding maritime security and deterring further Houthi aggression.
Civilian casualties in Yemen have been rising amid the intensifying conflict. Airwars, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that between 27 and 55 civilians were killed in U.S. strikes on Yemen in March alone. The toll for April is expected to be even higher. A particularly deadly incident occurred when a U.S. airstrike reportedly hit a Houthi-run detention facility holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen, already one of the worst globally due to years of war and blockade, has further deteriorated as international actors expand their military engagement in the region. Rights groups have called on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and take steps to protect civilians.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have positioned themselves as defenders of the Palestinian cause. Their missile campaign is framed as retaliation for Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have continued despite international pressure and repeated calls for a ceasefire.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, the Houthis have intensified attacks not only on Israel but also on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, prompting the formation of a U.S.-led multinational naval task force to protect maritime routes. Analysts say the group’s increasing operational reach and use of advanced weapons, including claimed hypersonic missiles, mark a significant shift in the conflict’s scale.
With no signs of de-escalation in either Gaza or Yemen, the risk of broader regional confrontation continues to grow. Diplomats have warned that without meaningful political dialogue, military responses may only deepen instability across the Middle East.
Source; Al Jazeera
