By Ibrahim Sipahi
ISTANBUL (AA) — The Israeli army on Sunday claimed that it had intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen as it was heading towards the country.
In a statement, the army said that "the air defense successfully intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen towards Israel."
It claimed that the missile did not reach Israeli territory.
Yemeni Houthi rebels said later on Sunday that they achieved a "direct hit" after launching a ballistic missile targeting "vital areas" in the Eilat region in southern Israel.
On Saturday, Israeli aircraft launched airstrikes targeting the port of Al Hudaydah, its fuel tanks, and the power station, killing three people and injuring 87 others, according to the Houthi Health Ministry.
The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the airstrikes, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described them as a "direct response" to a drone attack by the Houthi group on Tel Aviv on Friday, which killed an Israeli and injured 10 others.
The Houthis have been targeting ships that are Israeli-owned, flagged, operated or headed to Israeli ports in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones in solidarity with Gaza, which has been under a devastating Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi