IDF Says It Intercepted Missile Fired from Yemen

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Israel Defense Forces on Friday intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, thwarting the latest direct attack by Houthi rebels amid a sharp escalation of hostilities this week and mounting international condemnation of the group’s actions in the Red Sea, including recent accusations of war crimes by a major human rights organization.

The incident unfolded on Friday as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a series of alerts. “Initial report - The IDF has identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory, aerial defense systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military announced on Telegram.

The public was requested to follow the defensive guidelines of the Home Front Command as sirens sounded in several areas across Israel. In a follow-up statement, the IDF confirmed the outcome. “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israeli Air Force),” the military said, adding that the “sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.”

This latest launch is part of a direct and escalating cycle of attacks between Israel and the Yemeni group. On Tuesday, July 22, the Houthis launched a drone attack targeting several areas in Israel, including Ben Gurion Airport and the ports of Eilat and Ashdod. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree explicitly stated the operation, involving five drones, was direct retaliation for an Israeli strike a day earlier on the key Yemeni port of Hodeida.

On Monday, the IDF had announced it conducted a "significant strike" on the Hodeida port, targeting "military infrastructure and naval vessels used for military purposes," including engineering vehicles, fuel containers, and what it described as Iranian smuggled weapons. A Houthi security official, speaking to AFP, confirmed the strike destroyed the port's dock, which had only recently been rebuilt following previous attacks.

The military escalation comes as the Houthis face severe international censure for their broader campaign in the Red Sea. On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) declared that recent Houthi attacks that sank two commercial cargo vessels between July 6 and 9 were violations of the laws of war amounting to war crimes.

In its report, HRW detailed the sinking of the MV Magic Seas and the MV Eternity C, noting it found no evidence the ships were legitimate military targets or had any connection to Israel. The attacks resulted in the death of some crew members and the unlawful detention of others who are still believed to be in Houthi custody.

“The Houthis have sought to justify unlawful attacks by pointing to Israeli violations against Palestinians,” said Niku Jafarnia, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Houthis should end all attacks on ships not taking part in the conflict.”

HRW refuted Houthi claims that the ships had violated a ban on dealings with Israeli ports. The MV Magic Seas was transporting fertilizer and steel from China to Turkey, while the MV Eternity C was en route to Saudi Arabia after delivering humanitarian aid for the UN World Food Programme in Somalia.

The sinkings have also created a significant environmental threat. Satellite imagery reviewed by the Dutch NGO PAX shows large oil slicks from the wrecks drifting toward a protected nature reserve on Eritrea’s coast. Yemeni environmental experts warned of a crisis similar to the sinking of the MV Rubymar in March 2024, which carried hazardous fertilizers that caused a large loss of marine life.

While condemning the Houthi attacks, HRW also placed them in a wider context, noting that “Israeli forces have deliberately attacked critical infrastructure in Yemen, including Hodeidah’s port” and that the Houthis have attacked civilian areas in Israel. “It is critical for concerned governments to recognize war crimes, regardless of which party is responsible,” Jafarnia concluded.