JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said on Sunday it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen towards central Israel, launched in apparent retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike.
The missile triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities, sending residents into shelters and safe rooms in the afternoon as tens of thousands rallied in the streets demanding the release of hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.
There were no reports of casualties or damage.
"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israel Air Force)," the military said in a statement.
Reacting to the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media platform X that the Houthis "will pay dearly, with interest upon interest, for every attempt to launch missiles at Israel."
The Houthi group has not commented on the incident.
The incident came hours after an Israeli strike hit a power plant south of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Sunday morning. Houthi-run al-Masirah TV said the strike knocked out electricity generators at the facility, but caused no casualties.
The Israeli military confirmed it had struck an energy infrastructure site used by the Houthis, saying the attack, launched from about 2,000 km away, was carried out "in response" to repeated missile and drone assaults on Israel.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have launched attacks on Israeli targets since November 2023 in what they say is support for Palestinians during Israel's offensive in Gaza. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including Sanaa and the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. ■
