Netanyahu warns Houthis they will 'pay heavy price' as Yemeni group's missile hits Israel

Sept. 16, 2024, 6:31 a.m.

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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Yemen’s Houthis that the rebel group will pay a “heavy price” after the Iran-backed group claimed to conduct its first ballistic missile strike on Israel. The remarks from the Israeli premier came at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, the Houthis claimed that they had launched advanced surface-to-surface hypersonic missiles, which resulted in air raid sirens sounding across Israel at 6:30 am (local time). According to local news reports, the missile struck an open area in the Ben Shemen forest, causing a fire near Kfar Daniel. However, there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Following the attack, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) announced that it is investigating whether the fire was caused by fragments of the interceptor missiles launched at the projectile, or if it successfully penetrated Israeli air defenses as the Houthis claimed. The Israeli military noted that interceptors from Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow air defense systems were deployed during the attack, but it remains unclear if they effectively fulfilled their purpose.

Netanyahu issues stern warning

Before the cabinet meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister noted that the Houthis should have known by now that Israel charges a “heavy price” for such attacks. “This morning, the Houthis launched a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen into our territory. They should have known by now that we charge a heavy price for any attempt to harm us,” he said," Netanyahu said on Sunday.

“Those who need a reminder about this should visit the port of Hodeidah,” he added, referring to Yemen’s Red Sea city, which Israeli warplanes bombed in July after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone strike that killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, The Guardian reported.

Netanyahu's warning followed a statement from the Yemeni group leader, Abdul-Malek al-Houthi, who threatened further attacks on Israel on Sunday. “The operation our forces conducted today with an advanced Yemeni missile is part of the fifth stage of the escalation. What is to come will be greater,” he said in a public address.

Advertisement Meanwhile, Nasruddin Amer, the deputy head of the Houthi media office, called the attack “beginning”. A Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said a “new hypersonic ballistic missile” had been aimed towards an Israeli military target, which crossed 1,270 miles in 11 minutes and which the IDF failed to intercept.

It is important to note that the Houthis have repeatedly launched drones and missiles towards Israel since the beginning of the current Israel-Hamas war. However, most of these attacks have been stopped over the Red Sea. Therefore, this recent attack is seen as a significant escalation of the conflict.

With inputs from agencies.