In the early hours of Wednesday morning, shortly after 4:20, sirens sounded again in central Israel, the Shfela region and Judea. A rocket fired by the Houthis from Yemen was intercepted by Israel’s air defence system before it could enter Israeli territory. Debris from the intercepted rocket fell in Be’er Ya’akov, causing material damage but no injuries.
Residents reported loud explosions and the IDF’s public address system confirmed the attack. Magen David Adom paramedics treated nine injured people en route to shelters, as well as two people suffering from anxiety.
🚨For the 5th time in a week, millions of Israelis were sent to shelter as Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched a missile attack. pic.twitter.com/nsoJb4saxa
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 25, 2024
Flight operations at Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily suspended. An incoming plane was forced to change its route and divert north.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz reacted strongly to the increasing number of attacks by the Houthis. We will not accept that the Houthis continue to fire at the State of Israel,’ Katz said during a visit to an Arrow missile battery.
He announced that Israel would target the leaders of the Houthi terrorist group. Those who support Houthi terrorism in Hodeida or Sanaa will pay the full price,’ he stressed. Citing the successful elimination of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures, he said Israel would also target Houthi leaders.
Escalation of rocket threat
Wednesday morning’s attack is the latest in a series of rocket attacks from Yemen. On Tuesday, sirens went off across much of central and southern Israel after a rocket was intercepted. A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured as she tried to reach a shelter.
Last Friday, a rocket hit a playground in Jaffa, lightly wounding 16 people. On Thursday, a rocket warhead hit an elementary school in Ramat Gan, causing extensive damage.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Israeli Air Force is working on ‘more aggressive plans’ to deal effectively with the Houthi threat. The aim is to expand the target area in Yemen and prevent further attacks.
We trust no one but the IDF to protect the cities and their residents,’ Katz stressed. We will not tolerate any threats and will fight any danger in advance.
With reporting by JNS.
