Early Sunday, a missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels landed in an open area in central Israel, setting off air raid sirens at Ben Gurion International Airport. This incident is the latest development in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly a year. Although there were no casualties or significant damage reported, Israeli media showed footage of people rushing to shelters at the airport, which resumed normal operations shortly afterward.
A fire was visible in a rural area of central Israel, and images surfaced of what seemed to be a missile fragment that landed on an escalator at a train station in Modiin. The Israeli military reported that the surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by their defense system, which hit and fragmented the missile but did not destroy it. The explosions heard were from interceptors engaging the missile.
The Houthis, the Yemeni rebels, have previously launched drones and missiles at Israel since the onset of the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas, with most being intercepted over the Red Sea. In July, an Iranian-made drone from the Houthis hit Tel Aviv, resulting in one death and ten injuries. Israel responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including the port city of Hodeidah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested a similar response might follow the latest attack, warning that the Houthis should expect a heavy price for targeting Israel.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that the missile targeted a “military objective” near Tel Aviv. The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which they portray as a blockade on Israel in support of Palestinians. Most of these ships are not linked to Israel.
The ongoing Gaza conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, has had regional repercussions, including attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets by Iran and its allies. These retaliatory strikes have raised concerns about a broader conflict.
On Sunday, the Israeli military reported a “high probability” that three hostages found dead months ago were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The victims—Cpl. Nik Beizer, Sgt. Ron Sherman, and Elia Toledano—were abducted during Hamas’s attack and were believed to have been killed in a November strike targeting a senior Hamas militant. This announcement may intensify pressure on the Israeli government to negotiate for the remaining hostages, though critics argue that rescuing them is too perilous.
Additionally, an Israeli border police officer was stabbed near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate; the attacker was shot and killed. The officer was not seriously injured.
Early Sunday, around 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon, with most being intercepted or falling in open areas. Israeli forces also dropped leaflets over the Lebanese town of al-Wazzani, calling for evacuation, but this was later clarified as an unauthorized action by a local commander.
The Israel-Lebanon border tensions have displaced many people on both sides. Netanyahu emphasized the need to restore safety and order in the region. Hezbollah has stated it would cease attacks if a Gaza cease-fire is achieved, but recent negotiations for a truce and the release of hostages have stalled. Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining control over the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent arms smuggling, though recent discoveries of sealed tunnels might undermine this position.
The Israeli military announced that of the many tunnels discovered, only nine entered Egypt, and all have been sealed. This contradicts Netanyahu’s argument for continued control over the corridor. Egypt has previously sealed tunnels on its side, creating its own buffer zone along the border.
