Early Sunday morning, a missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels landed in an open area in central Israel, setting off air raid sirens at Ben Gurion International Airport. This incident is the latest in a series of escalations related to the nearly year-long conflict between Israel and Gaza-based militant groups.

Airport Operations Disrupted but No Major Damage Reported

Although there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, Israeli media captured footage of passengers at the airport rushing to shelters. The airport resumed normal operations shortly after the alert. In central Israel, a fire was visible in a rural area, and images from local media showed what appeared to be a missile fragment on an escalator in a train station in Modiin.

The Israeli military confirmed that the surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by the country's defense system. While the interception caused explosions in the area, the missile was not fully destroyed but fragmented upon impact.

Houthi Attacks and Israeli Retaliation

The Houthis, Yemen's rebel group, have increasingly targeted Israel with drones and missiles since the onset of the Gaza conflict. Most of these attacks have been intercepted over the Red Sea. A previous Houthi drone strike in July hit Tel Aviv, resulting in one death and ten injuries. In retaliation, Israel conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Following the latest attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that a military response could be forthcoming. He remarked, “The Houthis should know by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us,” and implied that the rebels should remember the consequences of their actions.

Hostage Situation and Military Developments

In a separate development, the Israeli military announced a “high probability” that three hostages who were found dead months ago were killed in an Israeli airstrike. The hostages, Cpl. Nik Beizer, Sgt. Ron Sherman, and Elia Toledano, were kidnapped during Hamas’ October 7 attack. The military's findings could intensify pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of remaining hostages.

Elsewhere, an Israeli border police officer was stabbed near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate. The attacker was shot and killed by police, and the officer sustained only minor injuries. Additionally, rockets fired from Lebanon early Sunday morning were mostly intercepted or fell in open areas.

Israeli-Lebanese Border Tensions and Cease-Fire Efforts

The situation along the Israel-Lebanon border remains tense. The Israeli military dropped leaflets over the Lebanese town of al-Wazzani, calling for evacuation, though it later clarified that no official evacuation orders were issued. The leaflet drop has been attributed to a local commander's mistake and is under investigation.

Hezbollah has suggested that it might halt its attacks if a cease-fire in Gaza is achieved. However, negotiations for a truce and the release of hostages have repeatedly stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining control over the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent smuggling, despite recent discoveries of sealed tunnels which undermine the government’s rationale for continued oversight.

Conclusion

The ongoing conflict continues to affect regional stability, with frequent escalations and retaliatory strikes shaping the broader geopolitical landscape. As diplomatic efforts to negotiate a cease-fire and resolve the hostage situation proceed, the situation remains fluid and volatile.