Netanyahu Promises Retaliation After Houthi Missile Incident

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels will pay a 'heavy price' following their missile strike on central Israel, marking a significant escalation as it is the first time such a missile has reached this area. The missile, identified as a new hypersonic ballistic type, traveled over 2,000 km from Yemen, suggesting a potential failure in Israel's air defense systems, which attempted to intercept it. Although the missile landed in an uninhabited area and there were no direct casualties, at least nine people sustained minor injuries due to shrapnel. Netanyahu emphasized that the Houthis should expect a strong Israeli response, referencing previous retaliatory strikes and warning that any aggression will be met with force. This incident comes amid ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon, with both groups launching attacks in solidarity with Hamas amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The situation is part of a broader multi-front campaign against what Netanyahu calls Iran's 'axis of evil'.