Israel-Gaza war: rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injures 16

The strike comes days after Israeli air strikes hit Houthi rebels launched missiles in solidarity with Palestinians

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Residents stand near the scene of a missile attack in Tel Aviv, after a missile fired from Yemen hit a playground in Tel Aviv. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:18pm, 21 Dec 2024Updated: 10:19pm, 21 Dec 2024

A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people slightly injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said on Saturday, days after Israeli air strikes hit Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians.

A further 14 people sustained minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before the projectile hit just before 4am on Saturday, the military said.

The Houthi rebels issued a statement on the Telegram messaging app saying they had aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target, which they did not identify.

The attack comes less than two days after a series of Israeli air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebel-held capital, Sanaa, and port city of Hodeida killed at least nine people. The Israeli strikes were in response to a Houthi attack in which a long-range missile hit an Israeli school building. The Houthis also claimed a drone strike targeting an unspecified military target in central Israel on Thursday.

Israeli emergency services work at the scene of a missile strike that, according to Israel’s military, was launched from Yemen and landed in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv. Photo: Reuters

The Israeli military says the Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and drones during the Israel-Gaza war. The Houthis have also been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and say they will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.