Israel says it intercepted Houthi missile as strikes on Gaza continue

• Israel intercepted a Houthi-launched missile as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran over support for Yemeni rebels. Hostilities continue to escalate in Gaza and the Red Sea.
• Israeli airstrikes targeted Gaza, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, after Hamas refused to release hostages.
• U.S. intensified military operations in the Middle East, striking Houthi targets and warning Iran of severe repercussions.

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Israel’s military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen early Thursday, March 20, as hostilities with the Houthi rebel group intensified. The interception comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings that Iran will face consequences if it continues to support the Houthis.

Sirens were activated in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as the missile approached.

According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the projectile was destroyed before entering Israeli airspace, and no serious injuries were reported.

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Why did the Houthis target Israel?

A Houthi military spokesperson confirmed the group fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport. The Iran-backed group has pledged to increase its attacks on Israel in what it calls retaliation for Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza.

The Houthis have also escalated their actions in the Red Sea, targeting international shipping lanes since late 2023. They claimed their strikes were part of broader support for Hamas and opposition to Israeli military actions.

How has Israel responded to Gaza’s renewed violence?

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 58 Palestinians overnight, according to hospitals in the region.

The strikes follow the collapse of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas after Israel accused the group of refusing to release remaining hostages — a total of 59 captives, with 24 believed to be alive.

Since the ceasefire ended, Israeli operations in Gaza have resulted in nearly 500 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency.

The latest wave of airstrikes targeted homes east of Khan Younis, with reports of dozens of injuries in addition to the fatalities.

What role does the US play in the conflict?

The U.S. has expanded military operations in the Middle East, launching strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Since Saturday, March 15, the Pentagon reported it has struck 30 targets, making this the largest U.S. military operation in the region since Trump took office again.

Trump warned Iran that it would face “dire consequences” if Houthi attacks on international shipping and Israel continue. The Houthis responded by attempting to target the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea on Sunday, March 16.

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What does this mean for the region?

The Houthis are part of what has been called the “Axis of Resistance,” an Iran-backed alliance that includes Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and armed groups in Iraq.

Analysts warned that the conflict has widened beyond Gaza and could destabilize the broader Middle East.