The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in the predawn hours of Thursday morning. The missile was destroyed outside Israeli airspace, but sirens wailed in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities in central Israel. Several people were injured while making their way to shelters, some requiring treatment for anxiety.

🚨Sirens sounding in central Israel due to projectile fire from Yemen🚨 pic.twitter.com/JtBfcGGl7v

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 20, 2025

The Houthis announced that they had fired a ‘Palestine 2’ hypersonic ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that “the target was achieved,” and that the firing was carried out in response to “the massacres against our brothers in the Gaza Strip.”

The attack came as Israeli lawmakers were working late into the night on the national budget. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was delivering a speech when he was informed of the sirens. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also at the Knesset at the time and was taken to a secure area. On his way, he told a reporter: “The Houthis are already paying the price, and will continue to pay.”

Netanyahu:

“The Houthis are already paying and will continue to pay.” pic.twitter.com/0MpRzFVWBM

— REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) March 20, 2025

It was the second attempted Houthi attack on Israel this week. On Sunday, a Houthi missile landed near the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in the southern Sinai Peninsula. Officials believe the missile was fired at Israel.

Since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have launched more than 350 drones and missiles at Israel and have repeatedly attacked shipping in the Red Sea, threatening international trade.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump warned that the Houthis would be “completely wiped out” as American airstrikes bombed terrorist targets in Yemen.

“Reports indicate that Iran has reduced its military support to the Houthis but continues to send large quantities of supplies,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Iran must stop the delivery of these supplies IMMEDIATELY. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves—they’re losing either way, but this way they’re losing fast. The Houthis have already suffered massive damage, and it’s about to get much worse—this is not a fair fight and never will be. They will be completely wiped out!”

In the meantime, the Houthis continue to put their threats into action. On March 12, the group announced it would resume attacks on “every Israeli vessel” in the Red Sea. On Tuesday, the Iran-backed terrorist organization further escalated its rhetoric after Israel launched renewed airstrikes against Hamas targets.

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