Yemen's Houthis claim missile and drone attacks in Israel

Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi militia on Friday claimed two attacks including one by a ballistic missile aimed at Israel in support of their Palestinian and Lebanese allies.

Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said the group had targeted a military target in the area of Jaffa with a ballistic missile and a "vital target" in the Ashkelon area with a drone.

"The two operations have successfully achieved their objectives," he added in a televised statement without giving details.

Saree vowed further attacks by the group in the days ahead until what he called the "Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon stops.

Earlier this month, the Houthis claimed they had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile against an Israeli military target in Jaffa.

Earlier Friday, warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv as air defence intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, the Israeli military said.

A post by the military on social media platform X said that millions of Israelis were seeking shelter in the centre of the country after the rocket alert.

There were no reports of damage or casualties.

Explosions heard in the early hours were due to the missile being intercepted, the military said.

On Wednesday, warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv for the first time since May as Israel's air defence intercepted a missile fired from Lebanon.

It was the first time the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia targeted Tel Aviv, in central Israel, since the war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7 last year.

Following a fatal drone attack on Tel Aviv by the Houthis, the Israeli Air Force attacked the port city of Hodeidah in July, leading to a massive fire and six deaths. Houthi leaders subsequently announced a new phase in the fight against Israel.

The Houthi militants have also been attacking ships in the Red Sea, saying the attacks are intended to support Hamas and force an end to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.