Houthis launch missile at Israel amid warnings of retaliation

The Yemen-based Houthi militant group escalated its campaign of solidarity with Palestinians on Wednesday, claiming responsibility for a ballistic missile launch targeting Tel Aviv. The missile, intercepted by Israel’s military before entering Israeli airspace, caused no damage or casualties but heightened regional tensions.

“We fired this missile as a message to the Zionist enemy,” a Houthi spokesperson declared. “Our actions will continue until the aggression on Gaza ends.”

This was the second missile launched by the Houthis in two days, part of a broader strategy they say is aimed at standing with Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The group has also disrupted vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with attacks on vessels, further complicating international trade and security.

In response, Israeli officials have ramped up their rhetoric. “We will act decisively against any threat to our citizens, whether it comes from the north, south, or distant fronts like Yemen,” said an Israeli defense official.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military report released Tuesday revealed that ground operations in Gaza inadvertently influenced Hamas’s decision to execute six hostages last August. Among the victims was Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, taken captive during Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel.

“The military’s actions in the area were cautious and deliberate, but they had a circumstantial impact,” the report stated, noting that the likelihood of finding hostages in the area was considered “medium to low.” The hostages’ bodies were found 48 to 72 hours later in a Hamas tunnel.

Hamas justified the killings as a direct response to Israeli military operations. “The blood of these hostages is on the hands of the Zionist regime,” a Hamas statement alleged, further deepening the war of narratives between the two sides.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a plea for diplomatic solutions. “This investigation underscores what we have been saying all along: the only way to bring our loved ones home is through a deal,” the group said.

The October 7 attack by Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the capture of about 250 hostages. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, but at least one-third are believed dead.

As the war drags on, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 45,300 deaths from Israel’s military response. The ministry’s figures have faced scrutiny for lacking differentiation between civilians and militants.

The international community remains divided, with many countries condemning Hamas’s actions. “We stand with Israel in its fight against terrorism,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “But we also call for measures to protect civilian lives in Gaza.”

With tensions soaring and no immediate resolution in sight, the conflict continues to destabilize the region and reverberate across the globe.