JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said on Wednesday (Dec 25) it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the country from Yemen.
Air raid sirens sounded over a wide swathe of central Israel as a precaution against falling debris, but the army said it shot down the projectile before it entered Israeli territory.
No injuries were reported, according to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s emergency medical services.
“A missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory,” the Israeli army wrote on the Telegram social media platform.
“Sirens regarding rocket and missile launches were activated due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception.”
On Tuesday, the Israeli army also said it had intercepted a projectile fired from Yemen.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched missiles against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most of them have been intercepted, but on Saturday an attack on Tel Aviv injured 16 people.
In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to the rebels.
“I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of Houthis, because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force,” Netanyahu said, “even if it takes time”.
In July, a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv killed an Israeli civilian, prompting retaliatory strikes on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah.
The Houthis have also regularly targeted shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, leading to retaliatory strikes by US and sometimes British forces.