New Year begins in West Asia with Houthi missile attacks on Israel; one intercepted
Explore the heightened tension as the New Year is marked by Houthi missile attacks on Israel, emphasising the increasing volatility in the region.
The Israeli Army on Wednesday (Jan 1) said that two projectiles were fired at it by the Houthi rebels from Yemen within minutes of the New Year. One of these missiles was intercepted by the Israeli military, while the second one landed in an open area.
The latest strikes come just a day after another Houthi missile was intercepted before it crossed into the Israeli territory.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been firing missiles and drones at Israel in what they claim is solidarity with Palestinians, ever since the start of the war in Gaza on Oct 7, 2023.
Missile intercepted
In a statement, the Israeli military said that alert sirens were sounded around midnight (2200 GMT) in the western Negev, and "two projectiles were identified crossing from the central Gaza Strip into Israeli territory".
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
USS Gerald R Ford vs USS Abraham Lincoln: Which is more powerful? US' largest aircraft carriers compared
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Equal to four times around the globe’: How the USS Abraham Lincoln traveled over 100,000 miles without refueling
)
Was Jeffrey Epstein really involved in cannibalism? Here's what DOJ files reveal
)
Priyadarshan says Rajpal Yadav's financial crisis due to ‘poor education', increased his pay
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘4 football fields at sea’: Inside the size & power of world’s largest carrier USS Gerald R. Ford now set for Iran’s waters
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Too heavy to lift?': How the USS Abraham Lincoln carries so many bombs and missiles
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How the destroyers around the USS Abraham Lincoln can track 100 targets at once
1.5 million litres of fresh water: How the USS Abraham Lincoln creates fresh water from the sea every day
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Epstein documents mention Madeleine McCann, British child missing since 2007. Here’s what witness saw
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Stay hidden from Russian satellites? How technologically advanced is the USS Gerald R. Ford
"One projectile was successfully intercepted and the second projectile fell in an open area," it added in a statement on Telegram.
Increasing Houthi attacks
The Houthi rebels, in recent weeks, have claimed to have fired several missiles at Israel, including the capital Tel Aviv. Their attacks triggered retaliatory responses from Israel that targeted the rebels' strategic assets and infrastructure.
Israel's retaliatory strikes have included targets like the Sanaa International Airport — a major entry point for humanitarian aid — power stations as well as other facilities at several ports.
These sites are used by the Houthis to "smuggle Iranian weapons into the region and for the entry of senior Iranian officials", said Israel in a statement.
The US and the UK have also responded to the rebel attacks in Red Sea-area waters vital to global trade, and have repeatedly struck Houthi targets in Yemen this year.
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.
