Houthi rebels fired a long-range surface-to-surface missile into central Israel on Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces said.
Why it matters: The attack, which Houthis said was launched from over 1200 miles away, is a mark of escalation from the Yemen-based militia group.
- Yahya Saree, a Houthis spokesperson, said the group launched “a new hypersonic missile” towards a target in Jaffa, near Tel Aviv.
- The IDF’s missile defense system didn’t intercept the missile before it entered Israel’s airspace and said the missile “exploded” in the air, scattering debris in open areas.
- The IDF said fragments of air defense missiles launched to intercept the missile fell near a rail station and that a fire started near the Ben Gurion Airport.
- No injuries were reported as a result of the attack, but the IDF said nine people were injured while moving to shelters after alarms sounded.
- This is the longest-range missile to ever hit Israel.