Yemen’s Houthi movement on Thursday claimed responsibility for launching a long-range “hypersonic ballistic missile” and three drones targeting different Israeli cities, intensifying tensions in the region. According to Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea, the missile was aimed at a military site in Jaffa (Tel Aviv), while drones struck Be’er Sheva and the southern port city of Eilat. In a televised statement broadcast on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, Sarea warned that Eilat would remain a continuous target of future military operations, framing the attacks as part of their solidarity campaign with Palestinians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), however, stated that most of the incoming projectiles were intercepted, though one drone managed to crash into a hotel zone in Eilat, damaging its gate but causing no casualties. Videos released by the IDF showed smoke rising from a damaged site in the city. Israeli media reported that air raid sirens were activated across large parts of central Israel, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, prompting residents to rush to bomb shelters. The military emphasized that such repeated Houthi strikes form part of a broader campaign aimed at terrorizing civilians.

Since the escalation of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis, who control northwestern Yemen, have repeatedly targeted Israel with long-range drones and missiles. Their leadership asserts that these operations are meant to pressure Israel into ending the Gaza blockade and halting military actions against Palestinians. Israel, in turn, has responded with retaliatory strikes on Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, raising fears of the conflict spreading further across the Middle East. With both sides escalating attacks, the risk of regional instability continues to grow.