Yemeni missile triggers sirens across Tel Aviv, amid Gaza escalation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
18 May 2025 02:39
2 Shares

A Yemeni missile launched early Sunday triggered sirens across Tel Aviv and central occupied Palestine, as the Yemeni Armed Forces vowed to enforce an aerial blockade amid rising casualties in Gaza.

Listen

A Yemeni Armed Forces hypersonic missile named "Palestine 2" is pictured at an unknown location, Yemen, September 16, 2024. (Yemeni Armed Forces/Military Media)

Early Sunday, a missile launched from Yemen triggered air raid sirens across multiple settlements in occupied Palestine, including Tel Aviv, occupied al-Lydd, Netanya, Holon, Ramat HaSharon, Ra'anana, and Herzeliya. The alerts caused widespread panic as residents scrambled for cover.

The Israeli occupation forces claimed the missile was intercepted, though Israeli media reported explosions were heard across the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area. The launch comes amid Yemen's ongoing military campaign in solidarity with the Palestinian people, as the war in Gaza continues to escalate.

Yemeni Armed Forces vow to impose aerial blockade

The strike follows a May 4 attack by the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) on Ben Gurion Airport. In a statement, YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced Yemen’s intent to enforce an aerial blockade against the Israeli regime, extending its campaign beyond maritime operations.

This promise builds upon what Sanaa described as a successful naval blockade of Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, which disrupted supply chains and exposed the vulnerability of Israeli maritime logistics.

Civilian death toll rises as Yemen maintains pressure

The latest Yemeni missile launch coincided with a devastating night in Gaza, where over 90 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including displaced individuals living in makeshift tents. The incident further fueled Yemeni resolve to maintain pressure on the Israeli occupation.

General Saree reaffirmed that the YAF’s actions were guided by a moral, humanitarian, and religious obligation to respond to what he described as genocide, massacres, and famine imposed on Gaza. He framed the operations as part of a broader commitment shared by “all free peoples of the Ummah,” particularly in the face of Arab and Islamic governments’ inaction.

Sanaa International Airport resumes operations despite Israeli strikes

In a parallel development, the Yemeni Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Saturday that Sanaa International Airport had reopened, with 575 passengers arriving and departing following recent Israeli airstrikes on the capital’s infrastructure. The airport was heavily targeted 11 days ago in what the Israeli occupation described as preemptive strikes, aimed at disrupting Yemen’s ability to launch long-range attacks.

Despite the aggression, Sanaa has swiftly rehabilitated the airport, signaling both resilience and defiance in the face of continued Israeli escalation.