Houthis Launch Missile Toward Israeli Military Base, Prompting Regional Tensions
A missile launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels was intercepted near Jerusalem on Monday, sparking fires and raising regional tensions. The Iran-backed group later claimed the strike had “accurately” targeted the Nahal Sorek military base in central Israel, situated southeast of Jaffa.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the interception west of Jerusalem, with debris from the missile causing localized fires. Following sirens in several Israeli areas, the Israeli Air Force intercepted the projectile before it entered Israeli airspace, marking another instance of Iran-backed militant activity in the region.
In response, Houthi-controlled media outlets accused U.S. and British forces of conducting airstrikes in Yemen’s Amran and Saada governorates. Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed coalition, claimed responsibility for four additional drone attacks on Israeli “vital targets” without providing further specifics.
Escalation in Gaza and Lebanon
Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon continued, targeting areas harboring suspected militant activity. According to Palestinian health officials, an Israeli strike in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp killed three people and injured at least 24. Another airstrike in Jabaliya, a northern Gaza refugee camp, claimed 17 lives, including nine women. The extensive bombings and loss of civilian life have intensified humanitarian concerns.
In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike struck a village far from known Hezbollah strongholds, resulting in at least 23 civilian deaths, including seven children. The United Nations children’s agency reports that over 200 children have been killed in Lebanon since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon’s Health Ministry estimates that the year-long conflict has led to over 3,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 1.2 million people.
Regional and International Implications
The renewed violence has highlighted the prolonged impact of regional hostilities. Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza, following an Oct. 7 Hamas-led incursion that killed around 1,200 Israeli civilians, has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties.
In the diplomatic arena, Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, as the U.S. urges Israel to allow additional humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Information from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters was included in this report.
