JERUSALEM: Israel鈥檚 military said Tuesday that it had 鈥渟uccessfully intercepted鈥� a missile fired from Yemen that sent sirens blaring across the center of the country in the early morning hours.
鈥淎n examination by the IAF (Israel air force) and the Home Front Command found that the missile fired from Yemen toward Israeli territory was successfully intercepted,鈥� the army said in a statement.
The military had previously said it made 鈥渟everal attempts鈥� to shoot down the missile, adding it had 鈥渓ikely鈥� succeeded.
It later reported that shrapnel from the missile 鈥渇ell inside a civilian house鈥� in the community of Mevo Beitar, near Jerusalem, and that additional shrapnel was found in the nearby town of Tzur Hadassah.
Tuesday鈥檚 attack came less than a day after Yemen鈥檚 Houthis said they had launched a missile toward the commercial hub of Tel Aviv, which Israeli forces said was intercepted 鈥減rior to crossing into Israeli territory.鈥�
The Houthis also claimed the Tuesday morning attack, saying they had launched a 鈥渉ypersonic ballistic missile鈥� at 鈥渙ccupied Jaffa,鈥� a reference to Tel Aviv.
Later on Tuesday the militia claimed to have launched two attacks on Israel. The Israeli military did not issue any alerts or report intercepting any projectiles.
There were no sirens in either city and the Israeli military did not mention any incidents.
The Iran-backed Houthis have pledged to continue their attacks until 鈥渢he end of the aggression against the Palestinians.鈥�
Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.
The militia controls swathes of Yemen, and Israel has struck Houthi targets several times inside the country including in the capital Sanaa.