Houthi Missile Intercepted Over Northern Israel Amid Intensifying U.S. Airstrikes in Yemen

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile toward northern Israel on April 23, triggering air raid sirens in Haifa. The Israeli military intercepted the missile with no reported injuries or damage. This incident coincides with intensified U.S. airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting areas like Hodeida, Marib, and Saada. The U.S. campaign aims to curb Houthi attacks on international shipping and missile strikes on Israel. Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed to have downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.

Missile Launch Toward Israel

At approximately 4:00 a.m. local time on April 23, air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, including in Haifa, Krayot, and areas west of the Sea of Galilee. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that a ballistic missile had been launched from Yemen and was intercepted mid-air by Israeli defense systems.

“An interceptor was launched toward the missile, and the missile was most likely successfully intercepted,” the IDF stated. Residents in the area reported hearing loud booms in the predawn hours, though no casualties or damage were reported.

While the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the launch, the group has previously delayed public acknowledgment of its operations. The attack marks a rare instance of the Iran-aligned group targeting northern Israel, a region typically outside the range of their usual missile activity.

U.S. Airstrikes Continue Across Yemen

Simultaneously, the United States has continued its monthlong air campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen. The campaign, which began on March 15, is aimed at curbing the group’s attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and its missile and drone strikes on Israel.

On Wednesday morning, Houthi sources reported fresh U.S. airstrikes in three key governorates: Hodeida, Marib, and Saada. In Marib, a strike reportedly hit telecommunications infrastructure, a type of target previously struck by U.S. forces. The U.S. military’s Central Command has not released detailed information about the specific targets or casualties from these latest operations.

The airstrikes are part of a broader U.S. strategy to degrade the Houthis’ military capabilities. According to an Associated Press review, the current campaign under President Donald Trump is more extensive than previous operations under President Joe Biden. The escalation followed renewed Houthi threats to target Israeli-linked shipping in response to Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza.

Drone Downed Over Yemen

In a related development, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced late Tuesday that the group had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen’s Hajjah governorate. Saree claimed the drone was targeted with a “locally manufactured missile.” The U.S. military acknowledged the report but declined to provide further comment.

The MQ-9 Reaper, a high-altitude surveillance and strike drone valued at approximately $30 million, has been a frequent target of Houthi forces. The group claims to have downed 26 such drones over the past decade. While Iran denies directly arming the Houthis, Iranian-made weapons, including surface-to-air missiles like the 358, have been found in Houthi-controlled areas, in violation of a United Nations arms embargo.

Background: Houthi Attacks and U.S. Response

The Houthis have significantly escalated their regional operations since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Between November 2023 and January 2024, the group targeted over 100 commercial vessels in the Red Sea, sinking two and killing four sailors. These attacks have severely disrupted maritime trade through the corridor, which typically handles $1 trillion in goods annually.

In response, the U.S. launched a sustained air campaign aimed at neutralizing Houthi missile sites, drone facilities, and command infrastructure. The campaign has included strikes on the Ras Isa fuel port, where at least 74 people were killed and 171 wounded in one of the deadliest known attacks of the operation.

The Houthis, who control large swaths of northern and western Yemen, have vowed to continue their operations against what they describe as enablers of Israeli aggression. The group’s ability to strike Israel directly, as demonstrated in Wednesday’s missile launch, underscores their evolving capabilities and the regional scope of the conflict.

Civilian Impact and Information Gaps

While the U.S. military has emphasized that its strikes are aimed at degrading Houthi military infrastructure, reports from Houthi-controlled media and international observers suggest significant civilian casualties. In one recent incident, a U.S. strike on a market in Sanaa’s Shuub district reportedly killed 12 people and injured 34 others. Footage from the scene showed damaged buildings and civilian casualties, including children.

The Pentagon has acknowledged only 13 civilian deaths in Yemen during the current campaign, a figure contested by independent monitors and humanitarian organizations. The lack of transparency from both the U.S. military and the Houthis has made it difficult to independently verify the full extent of the damage.

Strategic Implications

The missile launch toward northern Israel and the continued U.S. airstrikes in Yemen highlight the expanding geographic and operational scope of the conflict involving the Houthis. While the group has long targeted southern Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes, the strike on Haifa represents a notable shift in its targeting strategy.

The U.S. campaign, meanwhile, shows no signs of abating. With daily airstrikes reported across multiple Yemeni governorates, the operation appears aimed at long-term degradation of Houthi capabilities. However, the continued downing of U.S. drones and the group’s ability to launch missiles toward Israel suggest that the Houthis remain a potent force despite the sustained bombardment.

References

• Yemen's Houthi rebels fire a missile toward northern Israel, a rare target for the group
• Yemen’s Houthis launch rare missile attack on northern Israel
• US airstrikes target Saada and Hodeidah in Yemen
• US airstrikes killed 12 people in Yemen’s capital, the Houthi rebels say
• Yemen's Houthi rebels fire a missile toward northern Israel, a rare target for the group
• Scores of Civilians Reportedly Among Victims of Latest US Airstrikes on Yemen
• March–April 2025 United States attacks in Yemen - Wikipedia