Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued a statement on Telegram saying they aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at an unidentified military target.
advertiseAt night, a rocket fired from Yemen struck the Jaffa district of Tel Aviv, Israel, injuring about 16 people from broken glass.
The Israeli military said 14 other people were slightly injured as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before dawn on Saturday.
The Houthis issued a statement on Telegram claiming responsibility for the attack, saying they aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target.
“There was a flash, one hit, and we fell to the ground. It was chaos, glass was broken everywhere,” said Bar Katz, a resident of the damaged building.
The attack came after Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least nine people in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah.
Israel launched the attack in response to a long-range Houthi missile hitting a school building in central Israel.
The Houthis also claimed a drone strike on an unspecified military target in central Israel on Thursday.
The Israeli military says Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched more than 200 missiles and drones during Israel’s Gaza war with Hamas.
The Houthis have also attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and say they will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday’s Israeli attack caused “considerable damage” to the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port, which would lead to “an immediate and significant reduction in port capacity.”
The port of Hodeidah has been key to delivering food to Yemen during its decade-long civil war.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks from both sides risked further escalating the situation in the region.
