Israel Intercepts Missile Fired from Yemen Following Strikes on Houthi Targets
Israel intercepts Houthi missile after striking Yemeni ports. Retaliation follows Israeli airstrikes on Houthi assets, escalating Red Sea tensions. US may re-engage as maritime security threats grow, risking broader regional conflict.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemeni territory, amid escalating hostilities with the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The interception came just days after Israeli fighter jets carried out extensive airstrikes on Houthi-controlled infrastructure in western Yemen.
In a statement published on its official account on X, the Israeli army confirmed: “The Air Force intercepted a missile that was launched from Yemen a short while ago, prompting sirens in various parts of the country.”
Earlier in the day, air raid sirens were triggered across central Israel as the missile was detected heading toward Israeli airspace, though no damage or casualties were reported.
#عاجل 🔴 اعترض سلاح الجو قبل قليل صاروخًا أطلق من اليمن وسبب في تفعيل انذارات في بعض المناطق في البلاد
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 10, 2025
Missile Retaliation Follows Israeli Airstrikes
The interception follows a recent wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Houthi assets, including key locations in the ports of Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and As-Salif. According to the Israeli army, the operation involved nearly 20 fighter jets, which dropped approximately 60 bombs on Houthi military sites. Among the targets was the vessel "Galaxy Leader," which has been held by the Houthis for months.
The United States on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest Houthi attacks on two civilian cargo vessels in the Red Sea, which left three sailors dead, several injured, and resulted in the complete destruction of one ship.
In a press statement released by the U.S. State Department, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce denounced the assaults on MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C as "unprovoked Houthi terror attacks." The strike not only claimed lives but also caused the total loss of the Magic Seas and its cargo.
“These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and regional economic and maritime security,” Bruce stated.
Houthi Attacks Escalate in the Red Sea
Since late 2023, the Houthis have intensified their campaign against Israel and international maritime activity in the Red Sea, launching missiles and drones at Israeli targets and vessels they claim are linked to Israel. Earlier this week, the group claimed responsibility for two separate attacks targeting commercial ships off the Yemeni coast within a 24-hour window.
The ongoing escalation has alarmed international stakeholders and could reignite broader military involvement in the region. The U.S., under President Donald Trump, previously conducted significant air operations against Houthi positions—a policy that could be revived should Red Sea threats continue to expand.
As hostilities mount between Israel and the Houthis, concerns grow over the stability of maritime routes critical to global trade. Analysts warn that continued Houthi aggression could once again draw American and Western forces into a protracted military engagement in the region, further complicating the fragile security landscape of the Middle East.
