TEL AVIV, Israel – A rocket launched from Yemen struck an area near Tel Aviv during the night, resulting in injuries to 16 individuals from shattered glass, as reported by the Israeli military on Saturday. This incident occurred shortly after Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi rebels, who have been firing missiles in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
In addition to the 16 injured, another 14 people sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter as air raid sirens rang out before dawn, according to military sources. The Houthi movement announced via Telegram that they had targeted a military site, though they did not disclose its identity. The Israeli military confirmed it was looking into the incident while highlighting that “aerial defense is not infallible.”
Residents described the chaotic aftermath, with one individual, Bar Katz, recounting, “We heard a loud noise, a bright flash, and we dropped to the ground. There was a mess everywhere, with broken glass all around.” The Houthis’ media team reported retaliatory airstrikes against their positions in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. According to the U.S. Central Command, American forces carried out strikes targeting missile storage and command facilities held by the Houthis.
The rocket assault on Tel Aviv follows Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa and Hodeida, which resulted in at least nine fatalities. These airstrikes were conducted hours after a missile from Yemen impacted a school building in central Israel. On that same day, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone strike aimed at a military target within central Israel.
Since the onset of the 14-month Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, the Iranian-aligned Houthis have reportedly launched over 200 missiles and drones. They have also conducted attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and have vowed to continue their assaults until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza.
Additionally, the damage inflicted by Israeli airstrikes on Thursday was noted to be significant at Houthi-held ports along the Red Sea, which are essential for the delivery of food aid into Yemen during its ongoing civil conflict, as mentioned by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
In Gaza, the situation remains dire as mourners held funerals for 19 Palestinians – including 12 children – who lost their lives in airstrikes on Friday and overnight. One attack targeted a residential structure in Nuseirat refugee camp, resulting in at least seven deaths, five of whom were children, with 16 others injured.
In another incident in Gaza City, at least 12 people, including seven children, were killed in a strike on a family home, according to reports from Al-Ahli Hospital. One bereaved father was seen holding a small, shroud-covered body amidst a gathering of mourners. Later reports from al-Awda Hospital indicated that an airstrike hit a separate house in Nuseirat, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including two children.
As the night progressed, large explosions illuminated the Gaza skyline, with five bodies arriving at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital shortly thereafter. Since the renewed conflict erupted in October 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry has reported that more than 45,200 Palestinians have died, predominantly among women and children as they do not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants in their casualty figures.
International scrutiny of Israel’s operations has intensified, with heavy criticism focusing on the unprecedented civilian casualties in Gaza. Israel claims its military actions focus exclusively on militants and attributes the civilian toll to Hamas using populated areas as shields.
In a related incident, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza, reported that the Israeli military had ordered the facility to evacuate. Dr. Husam Abu Safiyeh stated that critical departments, including the intensive care unit and maternity ward, were being targeted, and moving the hospital would affect 66 patients.
In response to inquiries, the Israeli military claimed it was unaware of any current strikes near the hospital. Earlier reports indicated persistent gunfire and shelling close to the facility, prompting the health ministry to issue urgent requests for medical and food supplies amidst escalated military operations.
Reports confirm that the Kamal Adwan Hospital is experiencing severe resource shortages, including food, while appeals for vital medical supplies and support for oxygen, water, and electricity provisions go largely unfulfilled. Aid organizations have indicated that military actions and armed groups obstruct their efforts to deliver necessary assistance.
Moreover, the Israeli military’s humanitarian affairs unit announced a distribution effort that delivered thousands of food packages, flour, and water to the Beit Hanoun region in northern Gaza.
In a separate development, Iranian officials reported that unknown assailants killed a local staff member of the Iranian Embassy in Syria’s capital, Damascus, last Sunday. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, stating that it was carried out by “terrorists” and demanded that the interim Syrian government hold accountable those responsible for the assassination.
This incident unfolds amid the backdrop of Iran’s pivotal role as a supporter of the Syrian government led by Bashar Assad.
