Netanyahu Warns Houthis of “Heavy Price” After Missile Strike in Central Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Yemen’s Houthi group that they will face a “heavy price” after the Iran-backed faction fired a missile deep into Israeli territory.

The missile, launched early Sunday morning, landed in central Israel, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The projectile fell in an open area, and no injuries were reported, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who noted the missile likely fragmented mid-air.

The missile’s impact caused damage near a train station in Modi’in, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with videos showing smoke rising and shattered glass. The Houthis claimed responsibility, stating they used a “new hypersonic ballistic missile” and warned of more attacks as the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack approaches.

The strike is unusual in its reach, as central Israel is typically considered safe from such attacks.

“We are in a multi-arena campaign against Iran’s evil axis that strives to destroy us. They should have known by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us,” said Netanyahu addressing the nation ahead of a cabinet meeting.

This missile attack follows a long-standing pattern of hostilities between Israel and the Houthis, who have been launching drones and missiles in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. In July, a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv resulted in casualties, and Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Yemen.

The IDF is investigating how the missile was able to penetrate so deeply into Israeli airspace, as multiple attempts to intercept it were unsuccessful. Israeli police and bomb squads are scanning for missile fragments in the Judaean Foothills region.

Adding to the tension, approximately 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel’s northern region on Sunday, with no injuries reported. Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, has been regularly launching projectiles into northern Israel, prompting Netanyahu to call for a shift in the balance of power along the border.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have declared themselves part of an Iran-led “axis of resistance” against Israel, the U.S., and the West. They have also targeted shipping in the Red Sea in opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

As the conflict expands, concerns of a wider regional war are growing, with global leaders warning of further escalation. The situation remains highly volatile as Israel continues its war in Gaza in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which over 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken hostage. Since then, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

With input from Al Jazeera, CNN, and BBC.