Israel army says intercepted missile launched from Yemen

It is the sixth time the military says it has intercepted a missile launched from Yemen after Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza last Tuesday, shattering a period of relative calm since a January truce.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis had threatened to escalate their attacks in support of Palestinians.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory," a military statement said. AFP journalists in Jerusalem heard several muted explosions in the distance.

On Sunday, Israel's military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with Huthi rebels later claiming responsibility for an attack they said targeted Israel's Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.

The Huthis had targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden after the start of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

They had paused their attacks for the duration of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire that began mid-January, but resumed launching missiles and drones after the United States carried out deadly strikes on Yemen.