Houthi rebels target Israeli cities Tel Aviv and Ashkelon in drone strikes

Yemeni Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement launched drone attacks on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, according to a statement from the group's spokesperson, Yahya Saree.

The strikes targeted key Israeli infrastructure, with one hitting a critical facility in the occupied Jaffa neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, and the other striking an industrial zone in the Ashkelon neighbourhood.

The spokesperson confirmed that both drone attacks successfully hit their targets, with the details broadcast by the Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel, per Caliber.Az.

This marks the latest in a series of military operations carried out by the Yemeni rebels against Israeli locations.

Earlier, on the night of December 25, the Houthis launched a missile strike targeting a military facility near Tel Aviv. The missile, identified as a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile, was aimed at a military site in Jaffa. The Houthis claimed the strike was successful, achieving its intended objective. However, Israel's military reported that the missile was intercepted before it entered Israeli airspace. Despite the interception, around 20 Tel Aviv residents were injured during the subsequent air alert, as panic led people to rush into shelters, rather than as a direct result of the missile strike.

This missile attack follows a similar strike on December 21, in which a Palestine-2 missile allegedly struck a military target near Tel Aviv with precision, bypassing Israeli air defence systems. In response to these actions, the Houthis have vowed to continue their missile strikes against Israeli targets until the blockade on Gaza is lifted.

The Ansar Allah movement had previously warned Israel of further missile strikes, as well as threats to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait — vital shipping routes for global trade. Since November, the Houthis have targeted multiple civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, raising concerns over regional maritime security.

In response to these threats, the United States formed an international coalition under the operation “Prosperity Guardian,” aiming to ensure the freedom of navigation and the safety of ships in the Red Sea. As part of this mission, the US and British military have carried out strikes on Houthi military facilities in Yemen. Tensions in the region remain high, as international powers continue to engage in efforts to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation.

By Tamilla Hasanova