Houthi Rebels Claim Missile Strike on Israeli Power Facility
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Houthi rebels from Yemen's Ansar Allah movement have reportedly launched a hypersonic missile at Israel's Orot Rabin power plant, located in northwestern Israel. The claim was made by Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the group, during an announcement broadcast on Al Masirah TV.
Saree stated that the missile unit successfully executed a military operation targeting the Orot Rabin facility using a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile. However, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) quickly responded to the threat. They confirmed that a missile originating from Yemen was intercepted before it could enter Israeli airspace, and an air raid warning was issued for Talmei Elazar in central Israel.
This incident follows heightened tensions stemming from the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, particularly after recent escalations in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis had previously warned of potential strikes on Israeli territory, asserting their intent to prevent vessels associated with Israel from navigating through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until Israeli military actions against Hamas ceased.
In conjunction with these threats, the Houthis have engaged in numerous attacks on civilian ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November of the previous year. In response to these provocations, the United States and its allies initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation and ensuring the security of shipping routes in the Red Sea.
As part of this operation, U.S. and U.K. forces have conducted coordinated strikes against Houthi positions in various Yemeni cities. These military actions have targeted Houthi missile launch sites, drone operations, and radar systems, underscoring the escalating military dynamics in the region.
