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Houthi rebels fire a rocket into Israel

2024-09-15 17:17:47, Kosova & Bota CNA

Yemeni rebel rocket that landed in Israel. Source: AP

A rocket, which was launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, fell in central Israel on Sunday morning. This prompted the sounding of air raid sirens at the international airport. Israel has hinted that it will respond militarily.

There were no reports of casualties or major property damage, but Israeli media have published footage of people rushing to bomb shelters at Ben Gurion International Airport. Airport authorities said they soon resumed operations.

The Israeli military had made several attempts to shoot down the rocket. The military said it appears the missile was hit in mid-air, but the incident is still under investigation.

Houthi rebels have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at Israel since the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union - began in October, but almost all of them have fallen over the Red Sea.

In July, an Iranian-made drone launched by Houthi rebels struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring ten others. Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes on rebel-held areas of Yemen.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that his country will respond to the latest attack as he held a meeting of the executive he leads.

"The Huthi rebels must know what a high price they will pay for any attempt to harm us," he said.

The Yemeni rebels' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said they fired a ballistic missile aimed at a "military target" in Jaffa, which is part of Tel Aviv.

Hashim Sharaf al-Din, a spokesman for the rebel-led army, said Yemenis would celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday while "the Israelis will be in bomb shelters".

Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Most of the ships targeted by them have no connection to Israel.

Iran backs militant groups across the Middle East region, including Hamas, Houthi rebels and Hezbollah — the Lebanese group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. — which has exchanged fire on the border with Israel on an almost daily basis since the war began in Gas.

In addition to the rocket fired by Yemeni rebels, the Israeli military said about 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Sunday morning, adding that most of them were intercepted./ REL