Houthis Missile Fragments Strike Central Israel

Latest Developments

A missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen targeting central Israel set off sirens in dozens of areas on the morning of September 15, spreading fragments throughout central Israel and starting a fire. After reviewing the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) concluded that Israel’s aerial defense systems hit the missile and it “fragmented but was not destroyed.”

The IDF said that falling debris caused minor damage to a train station on the outskirts of Modiin, 18 miles east of Tel Aviv. According to Reuters, no injuries were reported directly related to the attack, although nine people received light injuries while seeking cover. The missile flew approximately 1,300 miles, making it the longest-range attack by the Houthis against Israel since it began its attacks following Hamas’s atrocities on October 7. The Houthis have carried out numerous attacks targeting Tel Aviv and the southern Israeli city of Eilat using drones and missiles, in addition to targeting ships in the Red Sea, claiming the attacks are in support of Hamas.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Houthis will face a “heavy price” for the attack. “We are in a multi-arena campaign against Iran’s evil axis that strives to destroy us,” Netanyahu said prior to a cabinet meeting on September 15. “They should have known by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us,” he added, referring to Israel’s response to a Houthi drone attack in July.

Expert Analysis

“The Houthi missile attack targeting central Israel represents a major escalation by the Iranian-backed terrorist group. The Houthis have been attacking Israel for eleven months in the wake of the Hamas massacre on October 7 using drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The group has also terrorized shipping in the Red Sea, and it is clear the Houthis represent a rapidly increasing danger to the entire region as their arsenal of deadly missiles and weapons expands.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow  

“Decision-makers in Jerusalem face critical choices: Should the military respond to the attack? Is this the beginning of a new phase in the multi-front conflict, or merely a recurrence of tactics the Houthis have previously attempted but failed to achieve? Even so, this time, fortune has favored the Houthis in their attempt to strike the Jewish State, as sirens triggered by the missile forced a large swath of residents located in central Israel to seek shelter.”— Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Iranian-backed Houthis Vow More Attacks

Following the attack, the Houthis threatened more “surprises,” vowing to carry out more attacks on Israel. Its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said its attack is part of its “fifth phase” of escalating attacks on Israel. On July 19, a Houthi drone exploded in Tel Aviv one block away from the U.S. Embassy branch office. The drone killed one person, and Israel retaliated with attacks on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, which the Houthis use for trade and smuggling. The Houthis claimed that their attack on September 15 targeting central Israel was carried out with a new “hypersonic” missile. They referenced the October 7 attack by Hamas in their statement and noted the approaching anniversary of the attack.

Related Analysis

“Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels in Yemen Claim Drone Attack on Tel Aviv,” FDD Flash Brief

“Maersk Reports Houthi Attacks Cause 66 Percent Drop in Suez Canal Traffic,” FDD Flash Brief

“10 Things to Know About the Houthis,” FDD Insight