Hamas leader says they are "prepared for long war"

Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas's politburo, stated on September 16 that the Palestinian organization is prepared for a protracted struggle against Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

In a letter to Yemeni Houthi leaders, Sinwar assured that Hamas is ready for a sustained battle of attrition, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Sinwar also extended congratulations to the Houthis for their recent rocket attack on Israeli territory. “Congratulations on your success in hitting the rear of the enemy's territory,” Sinwar remarked.

On September 15, a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen landed in central Israel. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, according to the Israeli military. The missile, which was detected flying over central Israel before falling in an open area, prompted sirens but caused no immediate harm.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that the missile was launched from Yemeni territory and added that the sounds of explosions were related to interceptor operations. The outcome of the intercept is still being assessed.

This recent escalation follows the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which sparked the ongoing conflict and resulted in 1,205 deaths, predominantly civilians. Militants also took 251 hostages, 97 of whom remain in Gaza, with 33 presumed dead, according to the Israeli military. In response, Israeli military actions have led to at least 41,226 deaths in Gaza, as reported by the region’s health ministry.