Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would impose a “heavy price” on the Iran-aligned Houthis controlling northern Yemen, following their missile strike that reached central Israel for the first time on Sunday.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea reported that the group launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile, which traveled 2,040 km (1,270 miles) in just 11.5 minutes. Initially, the Israeli military stated that the missile had landed in an open area, but later assessments suggested it likely fragmented in the air, with debris from interceptors landing in fields and near a railway station, causing no reported injuries.

Air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and central Israel shortly before the missile’s impact at approximately 6:35 a.m. local time (0335 GMT), prompting residents to seek shelter amid loud explosions. Smoke was observed rising from an open field in central Israel.

During a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu emphasized that the Houthis should have anticipated a “heavy price” for their attacks on Israel, inviting them to recall the Israeli airstrike on Hodeida port in July, which was a response to a Houthi drone that struck Tel Aviv. The Houthis have consistently launched missiles and drones at Israel, claiming to show solidarity with the Palestinians since the onset of the Gaza conflict following a Hamas attack on October 7.

The drone strike in July resulted in one fatality and four injuries, while Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi military positions near Hodeidah resulted in six deaths and 80 injuries. Previously, Houthi missiles had not penetrated deeply into Israeli airspace, with the only recorded incident being a missile that landed in an open area near Eilat in March.

Sarea warned that more strikes should be anticipated as the first anniversary of the October 7 operation approaches, including responses to aggression in Hodeidah. Nasruddin Amer, the deputy head of the Houthi media office, also commented on the situation.