Netanyahu threatens retaliation over Houthis targeting Israel in missile strike

Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening retaliation after the Houthi rebels of Yemen targeted central Israel with a missile attack on Sunday.

"This morning, the Houthis launched a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen at our territory," the Israeli leader said following a government meeting.

"They should know that we exact a high price for any attempt to attack us."

Yahya Sarea, spokesman for the Houthi military, said they had conducted a "specific military operation" with the use of "a new hypersonic ballistic missile." It had traveled more than 1,267 miles in under 11 1/2 minutes and "caused a state of fear and panic among the Zionists," he said.

Though the Houthis claim the missile had reached its target, the Israel Defense Force said the projectile appeared to have "disintegrated in the air."

Fragments of the missile fell into open areas, causing a fire near Kfar Daniel village, which is about 12 miles away from Ben Gurion International Airport.

The IDF said several interceptor systems responded to the missile and "the result of which are under review."

Israel has long been in a proxy conflict with Iran that exploded into a full-out war 11 months ago when Hamas , another Iran-backed militia, launched a bloody surprise attack, killing 1,200 Israelis and seeing another 251 kidnapped.

The Houthis amid the war have repeatedly attacked Israel from its borders while attempting to enforce a military blockade of the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza where the conflict is being mostly conducted.

In July, Israel conducted an airstrike on the Yemen port city of Hodeidah, killing several people and injuring dozens more. The strike was in retaliation over a fatal drone strike on Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu referenced the Hodeidah attack in his statement on Sunday, highlighting it as an example of what happens to those who target Israel.

"Whoever attacks us will not evade our strike. Hamas is already learning this through our determined action, which will bring about its destruction and the release of all of our hostages," he said.