Journalists from AFP heard explosions in the area around Jerusalem and the country's largest airport outside Tel Aviv. Israel's military confirms that a hit occurred near Ben Gurion Airport. Several people received minor injuries in the attack, according to Israeli media. Air traffic was completely stopped for about an hour.
"A crater has been formed here, tens of meters wide and tens of meters deep," says police officer Yair Hezroni in a video filmed on site.
Sirens sounded in parts of Israel before the attack, and the military reports that several attempts were made to stop the projectile. Israel's advanced air defense failed to shoot it down for some reason, the Israeli military reports.
The attack constitutes "proof of our ability to strike at fortified sites in Israel," a high-ranking member of the Houthi movement is quoted as saying to Qatari TV.
"We will strike back seven times stronger against those who strike us," Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of Yemen, has repeatedly attacked Israel with rockets and drones that have traveled far. It has also directed many attacks against Israel-related targets in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed movement says it is acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in war-torn Gaza.
During the night to Saturday, Israel claimed to have shot down a rocket fired from Yemen. Three days ago, it shot down two other rockets within the span of half a day. The Houthi movement announced that it had fired the rockets.
