On September 15, 2024, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would impose a “heavy price” on the Iran-aligned Houthis following their launch of a missile that reached central Israel for the first time. The missile, described as a new hypersonic ballistic type, traveled 2,040 kilometers (1,270 miles) in just 11.5 minutes. An Israeli military official reported that the missile was intercepted and fragmented in the air, preventing significant damage.
The missile strike triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv, at approximately 6:35 a.m. local time. The impact caused debris to land in fields and near a railway station. Although there were no direct casualties, nine people were lightly injured while seeking shelter. Smoke was observed in an open field in central Israel.
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In response, Netanyahu warned that the Houthis would face severe repercussions for their attacks. He referred to a previous Israeli airstrike in July against the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, which was retaliatory action for a Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv that killed one person and injured four. That airstrike resulted in six Houthi deaths and 80 injuries.
The Houthis have previously targeted Israel with missiles and drones as a gesture of support for Palestinians since the Gaza war began in October. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea indicated that the missile strike was just the beginning and suggested that more strikes could be expected as the anniversary of the October 7 operation approaches.
The deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, claimed that the missile reached Israel after 20 failed interception attempts, emphasizing that this was only the start of their retaliatory efforts.
