Israel Army intercepts missile fired from Yemen

Israel's military said it has successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Monday (March 24), after air raid sirens sounded in central areas of the country, including Tel Aviv. It said this marks the sixth interception of missiles from Yemen since Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza last Tuesday, breaking a period of relative calm following a truce in January.

The missile interception came after Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels had threatened to escalate attacks in support of Palestinians. The Huthi militant group in Yemen recently declared it would resume attacks on Israeli ships in response to Israel's decision to block aid from entering Gaza.

For over a year, the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks on cargo ships and other vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, unsettling global freight markets. This campaign began following the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023, which ignited the war in Gaza.

According to Israel's military, the missile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.

AFP journalists in Jerusalem reported hearing several muted explosions in the distance during the incident.

On Sunday, Israel also intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with the Huthis claiming responsibility for an attack that allegedly targeted Israel's Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. This follows a series of previous attacks by the Huthis, who have targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since the onset of the Gaza conflict on October 7, 2023.

The Huthi rebels had paused their attacks during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began in mid-January but resumed their missile and drone launches after the United States conducted strikes on Yemen.

The latest incidents highlight the ongoing regional tensions, with Yemen's Huthis voicing their support for the Palestinian cause while expanding their military actions against Israel.

Escalating violence in Gaza: Over 65 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed over 65 Palestinians on Monday, including women and children, as violence escalated following the end of a ceasefire with Hamas. The death toll from the 17-month war has now surpassed 50,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel's air and ground operations have resulted in hundreds of fatalities since the truce broke down, with strikes targeting various locations in Gaza, including the city of Khan Younis.

Israeli military strikes and casualties

In addition to the ongoing airstrikes, two rockets fired from Gaza were intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, triggering air raid sirens in the southern regions. The Israeli military confirmed the interception but reported no casualties from the rockets. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza killed at least four people and wounded 18 others, while the Gaza Health Ministry reported 61 deaths and 143 injuries in the last 24 hours alone.