TEL AVIV, Israel — A rocket launched from Yemen struck an area near Tel Aviv overnight, injuring 16 individuals from glass shards, according to statements from the Israeli military on Saturday. This incident occurred shortly after Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi rebels, who had been firing missiles in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, an additional 14 people suffered minor injuries as they hurried to shelters following air raid alarms that rang out in the early hours of Saturday. The Houthis claimed responsibility through a statement on Telegram, indicating they targeted a military site, which remained unnamed. Israel’s military noted that investigations were ongoing, while highlighting that their air defense systems are not infallible.
Bar Katz, a resident of one of the affected buildings, described the chaos — “A flash of light, a blow and we fell to the ground. Big mess, broken glasses all over the place,” he recounted.
This attack on Tel Aviv followed recent Israeli airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled capitals of Sanaa and Hodeida, which resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals. These airstrikes came in retaliation after a missile fired from Yemen struck a school in central Israel. On the same day, the Houthis also claimed to have launched a drone at an unidentified military target in central Israel.
According to Israeli military sources, the Houthis, backed by Iran, have discharged over 200 missiles and drones throughout the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Houthis have also engaged in assaults on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, asserting that they will continue their actions until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israeli military’s airstrikes on Thursday resulted in significant damage to Houthi-managed ports along the Red Sea, which are crucial for food deliveries into Yemen amid a prolonged civil war. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric remarked that the strikes would lead to a significant and immediate decrease in the capacity of these port facilities.
Furthermore, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that such attacks from both sides could lead to further tensions in the region.
In Gaza, mourners conducted funerals for 19 people, including 12 children, who lost their lives in Israeli air assaults on Friday and the following night. One attack struck a residential building in the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least seven, comprising five children and one woman, and injuring 16 others, according to local health officials.
Additionally, a strike in Gaza City claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including seven children and two women — a scene of mourning unfolded at Al-Ahli Hospital where the deceased were taken. Families grieved as they held shrouded bodies and offered comfort to one another during the somber occasion.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported a total of 21 fatalities over the past 24 hours, bringing the grim toll to over 45,200 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, following a Hamas attack in Israel that resulted in about 1,200 fatalities and eventually led to the prolonged conflict. While the health ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, it has affirmed that over half of the casualties comprise women and children.
Israel continues to face intense global scrutiny in light of the striking civilian death toll in Gaza, arguing that its operations specifically target militants while placing the blame on Hamas for embedding itself within civilian populations.
An urgent request for medical and food supplies has been sent to Kamal Adwan Hospital located in the relatively isolated northern region of Gaza, where conditions are reportedly dire due to the ongoing military offensive. Doctors at the facility indicate a desperate need for critical resources amid continuous gunfire and shelling nearby, which has exacerbated fears and concerns among patients and staff. Hospital director Dr. Husam Abu Safiyeh noted the dire shortages and inadequacies in medical supplies, including oxygen, water, and electricity.
“We cannot provide meals for the wounded,” Dr. Safiyeh stated, urging anyone who could assist to step forward. Aid organizations have flagged challenges posed by both Israeli military operations and armed groups in distributing humanitarian assistance effectively.
Nonetheless, the Israeli military unit handling humanitarian affairs announced that it has coordinated an operation providing thousands of food packages, flour, and water to the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza, claiming to have delivered supplies in conjunction with the U.N. World Food Program.
In a related development, Iran reported that unidentified gunmen fatally shot a local staff member of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria. This information was shared by the official IRNA news agency, which referred to the victim, Davood Bitaraf, as a target of “terrorists” without elaborating on his involvement with the embassy. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson held the Syrian interim government accountable, demanding they track down those responsible for the attack.
Through ongoing coverage, further developments regarding the regional conflict can be monitored for updates and actions being undertaken by the involved parties.