**Israel Launches Airstrikes on Houthi Military Targets in Yemen Following Missile Threat**

The strikes targeted key military installations as tensions escalate in the region amid ongoing conflicts.

The Israeli military has executed airstrikes on military targets linked to the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, following a missile attack that was intercepted over central Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the strikes focused on military infrastructure, including energy facilities in Sanaa and ports along the Red Sea, particularly Salif and the Ras Issa oil terminal.

Houthi media outlets claimed that the Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of nine individuals in Hudaydah province, including multiple casualties at the port of Salif and nearby oil facilities. This military engagement was initiated just hours after a Houthi missile was launched toward Israeli territory, leading to damage in Ramat Gan, where a school building was reported to have collapsed due to the interception efforts.

The Houthi movement, which controls northwestern Yemen, ramped up their missile and drone attacks against Israel after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians as their rationale. The IDF noted a significant escalation, with hundreds of missile attacks from the region directed at Israel, the majority of which were successfully intercepted.

In a tense early morning incident, air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv as the missile threat was neutralized by Israeli air defense systems. Damage was identified in Ramat Gan, with defense officials investigating whether the school building's collapse was related to missile fragments. Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch suggested that it might have been a consequence of a missile or missile interceptor detonation.

Following the interception, the IDF confirmed that their air forces had engaged in pre-planned strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, emphasizing the necessity of targeting areas that have facilitated attacks against Israel. Houthi representatives responded defiantly, claiming that their missile operations still occurred simultaneously with the Israeli airstrikes and had achieved set military objectives.

Lasting tensions were highlighted by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who warned Houthi leaders of severe repercussions for actions against Israel, while stressing that responses would be met with increased force. This recent confrontation marks the third direct Israeli military engagement with Houthi forces within five months, following previous strikes in July and September.

The broader implications of these actions are underscored by international participation, with both the US and UK having conducted military operations against Houthi positions over the past year in response to maritime threats. The ongoing conflict underscores the regional complexities as the Houthis persist in their missile campaigns, framing their actions as support for Palestinian rights amid the Israel-Hamas war.