Millions of Israelis Rush to Shelters Following Missile Fired From Yemen

Millions of Israelis were forced into bomb shelters late Thursday night after air raid sirens sounded across much of the country, triggered by a ballistic missile launched from Yemen.

The alerts came at 22:39, just hours after the Israeli Air Force carried out its largest strike yet in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, where more than 65 munitions were dropped on Houthi targets. Within minutes of the Home Front Command’s warning, sirens were heard across wide regions, from Lachish in the south to the Sharon plain, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan, Herzliya, and other major cities.

The missile was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses, the IDF confirmed.

For over ten minutes, millions of people sheltered in protected spaces until the IDF announced the missile had been destroyed mid-air.

Magen David Adom reported no casualties, and flights en route to Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily held in the air during the alerts.

The Israeli strike in Sana’a earlier in the day targeted Houthi command-and-control centers, as well as security and intelligence compounds belonging to the Iran-backed rebel group. The IDF dubbed the operation “Passing Package.”

It followed a deadly drone attack two days earlier in Eilat, where over 20 people were injured at a popular tourist site, two of them seriously.

Last week, millions of Israelis similarly took shelter after another missile was fired from Yemen, just hours after a drone strike ignited a fire outside a hotel in Eilat. That same evening, the Houthis launched two additional drones that were intercepted by Israeli forces.

With air defense systems on high alert, Israel faces a growing threat from the Houthis, who continue to expand their attacks beyond the Red Sea into Israeli territory.