Sanaa: The Houthi rebel group in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a missile strike on central Israel that killed at least four people and wounded dozens more. The announcement came hours after the Israeli military reported incoming missiles from Yemen targeting key areas in the country’s central region, confirming that some of the attacks originated from outside Israel’s immediate borders.
In a statement aired by Al Masirah TV, the Houthis said the operation was carried out in direct coordination with the Iranian military and involved the use of advanced “Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missiles.” According to the group, the missiles were aimed at what they described as “sensitive” Israeli sites located in the occupied Jaffa area, a densely populated and historically symbolic part of central Israel.
The Israeli authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact nature of the targeted sites, but emergency services confirmed the death toll stands at four, with dozens injured and several in critical condition. Earlier, a separate wave of strikes on northern Israel also left four people dead, suggesting a broader escalation in cross-border attacks linked to the growing regional conflict.
This latest strike is part of a coordinated offensive reportedly tied to Tehran’s broader strategy of mobilizing allied forces in retaliation for Israel’s recent airstrikes inside Iran. The use of hypersonic technology by the Houthis marks a significant development in the group's missile capabilities, signaling a dramatic escalation in their long-standing support for Palestinian resistance.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis have increasingly aligned themselves with Iran-backed operations against Israel, launching several missile and drone attacks from Yemen in declared solidarity with Palestinians. This latest assault highlights the widening regional dimensions of the conflict, drawing multiple fronts into a complex and intensifying confrontation.
