Israel reports second missile fire from Yemen since start of Iran war

A missile was fired at Israel from Yemen on Saturday for the second time since the start of the war in Iran one month ago, the Israeli military said late on Saturday.

A drone was spotted over the southern Israeli city of Eilat, and a cruise missile was intercepted before it reached Israeli territory, the Times of Israel reported, citing the military.

On Saturday morning, the Yemeni militia had fired a missile at Israel for the first time since the start of the war with Iran a month ago.
This missile was also neutralized by Israeli air defences.

The Houthi militia confirmed the evening's attack in a statement.

Their second military operation of the day consisted of "a barrage of cruise missiles and drones" and was directed against a number of strategic and military targets in southern Israel, their command in Sanaa announced.

Early in the war - which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February - the Iran-backed Houthi militia pledged its "full and unwavering solidarity" with Tehran. Recently, fears had grown that the Islamist militia would intervene from Yemen.

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked merchant ships in the past in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The waterways form a key link between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, and are considered among the world's most important trade routes.