Israel threatens ‘high price’ for Houthi rocket attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Yemen's Houthis would pay a “heavy price” after a rocket fired by the group hit central Israel.

The Israeli military said the rocket hit an uninhabited area early Sunday, but shrapnel indicated that air defense systems failed to destroy the rocket before it entered Israeli airspace.

It was further stated that an investigation was underway into how the rocket was able to penetrate so far into Israeli territory.

The attack marks the first time a rocket fired by the group has reached central Israel, which is about 2,000 kilometers from Yemen.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the rocket on Sunday, but it most likely shattered in mid-air.

The Houthis claimed that a new type of hypersonic missile was used in the operation, which may explain the failure of the interception attempts.

The armed group, which has taken control of large parts of Yemen during the ongoing civil war, is part of the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” against Israel, the United States and the wider West.

In a statement, the Houthis said Sunday's attack was carried out in solidarity with the Palestinians and that Israel should expect further attacks ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

Rocket fragments landed in a train station in the city of Modiin, causing some damage, as well as in open areas near Israel's main international airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

The damage is believed to have been caused by Israel's own interceptor missiles.

Netanyahu said the attack showed that Israel was in a “multi-front battle against the Iranian axis of evil that seeks to destroy us.”

“[The Houthis] You should know by now that we demand a high price for any attempt to harm us,” he said.

“Whoever attacks us will not escape our arms.

“Hamas is already experiencing this through our decisive action, which will lead to its destruction and the release of all our hostages.”

After the attacks on October 7, the Israeli armed forces launched a campaign to crush Hamas. Around 1,200 people were killed in the attacks and another 251 were taken hostage to Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 41,206 people have been killed in Gaza since the campaign began.

This is not the first time the Houthis have attacked Israel.

In July, one man was killed and eight people injured when a Houthi drone landed in Tel Aviv.

Previously, almost all Houthi rockets and drones fired at Israel had been intercepted, and none had been proven to have reached Tel Aviv.

In response, Israeli jets attacked the city of Hodeidah in Yemen, causing a massive fire that engulfed one of the country's most important oil storage facilities.