A missile launched from Yemen toward Israel was intercepted early Sunday by the Israeli Air Force after air raid sirens sounded across parts of the country, sending hundreds of thousands rushing to bomb shelters.
“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol,” the military said in a statement.
Earlier, the IDF had reported detecting a missile launch from Yemen and said air defense systems were engaging the threat. The army urged the public to follow Home Front Command safety instructions during the alerts as hundreds of thousands of Israelis rushed to bomb shelters.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
According to data from the Red Alert warning system, sirens were heard in parts of central and southern Israel, including the greater Jerusalem area.
Air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport was briefly halted as a precaution, delaying several flights, including those operated by Ethiopian Airlines, before operations resumed. Such suspensions have become routine during long-range missile launches by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels toward Israel.