Sun Sep 15 11:35:59 UTC 2024: ## Yemen Rebels Target Israel with Missile, Raising Tensions
**JERUSALEM (AP) –** A missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels landed in an open area in central Israel early Sunday, prompting air raid sirens at Ben Gurion International Airport. While no casualties or major damage were reported, the attack, the latest in a series of cross-border incidents stemming from the Gaza conflict, has further escalated tensions in the region.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted the missile, successfully fragmenting it mid-air. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement hinting at military retaliation, said, “The Houthis should have known by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us.” He alluded to previous Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen following a similar attack in July.
The Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed the missile targeted “a military target” in the Tel Aviv area.
Meanwhile, investigations continue into the deaths of three Israeli hostages killed in a November airstrike that also targeted a senior Hamas militant. The Israeli army concluded that it is “highly probable” they died in the strike, although they could not determine the circumstances of their deaths with certainty.
The continued attacks and retaliations, coupled with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, have raised concerns about a wider regional war. International carriers have repeatedly cancelled flights to and from Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict, adding to the economic strain. Egypt and the United States have been working to broker a truce and the release of hostages held by Hamas, but talks have been stalled.
The Israeli military remains focused on securing its borders and preventing further cross-border attacks, while tensions continue to mount across the region.
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