Houthi rebels launch missile toward Israel amid escalating tensions

Yemen is witnessing an escalation in military tensions as the Houthi rebels conducted a missile launch targeting northern Israel early Wednesday. This operation is considered unusual for the Houthis, who have primarily focused their military efforts in the region on local conflicts and attacks on maritime vessels. The missiles reportedly triggered air raid sirens in multiple Israeli cities, including Haifa and areas west of the Sea of Galilee. The Israeli military responded quickly, confirming that an interceptor was launched and the missile was likely intercepted without resulting in any injuries or damages. The Houthis did not immediately take responsibility for this launch, which is consistent with their operational patterns of sometimes delaying acknowledgment of attacks. In the previous months, the group's activities have drawn significant attention due to the ongoing U.S. military airstrike campaign targeting Houthi positions in Yemen, which commenced on March 15, 2025. American forces have been targeting the Houthis, citing their involvement in a string of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and direct threats to Israel, categorize them as part of Iran’s