Published: 20:29, January 3, 2025
Israeli army says intercepted missile, drone fired from Yemen
By Xinhua
A man works next to damaged building near the site where a missile reportedly launched from Yemen landed Jaffa district, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec 31, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

JERUSALEM – The Israel Defense Forces said it had intercepted a missile and a drone fired by the Houthi group in Yemen on Friday.

The missile, fired at about 4:30 am local time (0230 GMT), activated sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, sending millions of residents to shelters.

Israel's national emergency service, Magen David Adom, said 12 people were injured while heading to shelters.

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According to the IDF, the missile was intercepted after it crossed into Israeli territory, with a fragment landing near the city of Modi'in in central Israel.

Israel's Channel 12 TV News reported that the missile's engine was found in a backyard in the Israeli settlement of Har Gilo in the West Bank, near Jerusalem, causing minor damage.

Flights at Ben Gurion International Airport were halted for about half an hour following the launch, and two were diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, added the channel.

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Later in the morning, the IDF said it had intercepted a drone launched from Yemen before it crossed into Israeli territory. In this case, sirens were not activated.