Missile from Yemen Intercepted Over Israel After Massive IDF Strike on Sana’a

IDF confirmed late Thursday night that a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel was successfully intercepted, just hours after the Air Force carried out its largest strike to date on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.

At 10:39 p.m., the Home Front Command issued a nationwide alert warning of possible sirens. Three minutes later, alarms sounded across wide swaths of the country — from the Lachish region through Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the Sharon area.

Residents of cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Bat Yam, Herzliya, Holon, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan, Beit Shemesh, and Karnei Shomron were forced to rush into shelters.

The IDF confirmed shortly after that the missile was intercepted. At 10:53 p.m., the Home Front Command announced that the incident was over and civilians could leave protected spaces — just 11 minutes after alarms first went off.

Flights Delayed, No Casualties Reported

Flights bound for Ben Gurion Airport were briefly delayed in the air during the incident.
Magen David Adom (MDA) stated that no emergency calls were received at its 101 hotline regarding the missile launch.

The attempted strike from Yemen followed an extensive IDF operation in Sana’a earlier Thursday afternoon. Israeli aircraft dropped more than 65 munitions on Houthi targets, in what the military described as its largest strike in Yemen so far.

Targets included the control headquarters of the Houthi General Staff as well as security and intelligence compounds in the capital. The operation was codenamed “Passing Package.”

The airstrikes came in response to a drone attack in Eilat earlier this week that left more than 20 people wounded. Two victims were critically injured and evacuated from Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.

Growing Threat from Yemen

Thursday’s launch highlights the growing challenge posed by the Iranian-backed Houthis, who have intensified attacks on Israeli cities in recent weeks, in coordination with other Iranian proxies in Gaza and Lebanon.

The IDF has warned that long-range strikes from Yemen remain a persistent threat, requiring significant resources for missile defense and further preemptive operations.