Netanyahu Vows to Inflict ‘Heavy Price’ after Houthis Fire Missile at Central Israel

A general view of Tel Aviv, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, in Israel, March 2, 2024. (Reuters)
A general view of Tel Aviv, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, in Israel, March 2, 2024. (Reuters)
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Netanyahu Vows to Inflict ‘Heavy Price’ after Houthis Fire Missile at Central Israel

A general view of Tel Aviv, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, in Israel, March 2, 2024. (Reuters)
A general view of Tel Aviv, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, in Israel, March 2, 2024. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would inflict a "heavy price" on the Iran-aligned Houthi militias in Yemen after they reached central Israel with a missile on Sunday for the first time.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group struck with a new hypersonic ballistic missile that travelled 2,040 km (1270 miles) in just 11 1/2 minutes.

After initially saying the missile had fallen in an open area, Israel's military later said it had probably fragmented in the air, and that pieces of interceptors had landed in fields and near a railway station. Nobody was reported hurt.

Air raid sirens had sounded in Tel Aviv and across central Israel moments before the impact at around 6:35 a.m. local time (0335 GMT), sending residents running for shelter. Loud booms were heard.

Reuters saw smoke billowing in an open field in central Israel.

At a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the Houthis should have known that Israel would exact a "heavy price" for attacks on Israel.

"Whoever needs a reminder of that is invited to visit the Hodeidah port," Netanyahu said, referring to an Israeli retaliatory air strike against Yemen in July for a Houthi drone that hit Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Israel repeatedly in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, since the Gaza war began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October.

The drone that hit Tel Aviv for the first time in July killed a man and wounded four people. Israeli air strikes in response on Houthi military targets near the port of Hodeidah killed six and wounded 80.

Previously, Houthi missiles have not penetrated deep into Israeli air space, with the only one reported to have hit Israeli territory falling in an open area near the Red Sea port of Eilat in March.

Israel should expect more strikes in the future "as we approach the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 operation, including responding to its aggression on the city of Hodeidah," Sarea said.

The deputy head of the Houthi's media office, Nasruddin Amer, said in a post on X on Sunday that the missile had reached Israel after "20 missiles failed to intercept" it, describing it as the "beginning".

The Israeli military also said that 40 projectiles were fired towards Israel from Lebanon on Sunday and were either intercepted or landed in open areas.

"No injuries were reported," the military said.



Jordan Prime Minister Submits Resignation Days after Election

 Electoral workers count votes at a polling station after voting ended during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Electoral workers count votes at a polling station after voting ended during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
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Jordan Prime Minister Submits Resignation Days after Election

 Electoral workers count votes at a polling station after voting ended during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Electoral workers count votes at a polling station after voting ended during parliamentary elections in Amman, Jordan September 10, 2024. (Reuters)

Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh submitted his resignation on Sunday less than week after parliamentary election that saw some gains for the Islamist opposition.

The new composition of the 138-member parliament retains a pro-government majority, but a more vocal Islamist-led opposition could challenge IMF-led free-market reforms and foreign policy.

Jordanians went to the polls Tuesday in a parliamentary election overshadowed by the war in Gaza and concerns over a slump in tourism, a sector vital to the kingdom's economy.

It was the first vote since a 2022 reform increased the number of seats in the house, reserving more for women and lowering the minimum age for candidates.