Houthi ballistic missile targeting northern Israel wakes up about a million Israelis with alarm sirens

A missile launched from Houthi territory in Yemen set off alarms across northern Israel in the area of Nahariya, Haifa, and the Western Galilee early Wednesday morning before being intercepted by missile defense systems. 

Before the alarms were activated around 4:00 a.m., the Israeli Home Front Command said a launch from Yemen toward Israel had been detected and that “aerial defense systems are operating to intercept the threat.” 

Nearly one million people live in the target area where the alarms were activated, particularly in the Haifa and Krayot area. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement shortly after the alarms were activated, saying, “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in Haifa, Krayot, and the Western Galilee, a missile was launched from Yemen. An interceptor was launched toward the missile and the results of the interception are under review. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.” 

🚨Sirens sounding in northern Israel due to projectile fire from Yemen pic.twitter.com/OYTqPjCqsj

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 23, 2025

This was the first time a missile from Yemen triggered alarms in the Haifa Bay area.

Somewhat unusually, the IDF did not clearly state that the missile had been successfully destroyed by the interceptors. 

“An interceptor was launched toward the missile, and the missile was most likely successfully intercepted,” the IDF said in its final statement about the incident. 

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said it did not receive any calls of injuries resulting from falling shrapnel due to the missile or the interceptors. 

The previous ballistic missile launched by the Houthis came during the Passover holiday, targeting the area of Jerusalem, the Shephelah, Samaria, and Gush Dan. 

On Sunday night, there were reports that an attempted launch by the Houthis failed, with the missile falling back to earth in the capital city of Sana’a, causing injuries and destruction.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to carry out strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled territory, including the port city of Hodeidah and the capital city of Sana’a. 

On Monday, U.S. warplanes launched at least 25 strikes against Houthi rebel positions on the front line of the group’s fight against the internationally recognized government forces in the south. 

The strikes, which targeted areas south of the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, come amid reports that Yemeni government forces are preparing to renew their attacks on the city, possibly with the air support of U.S. forces and other allied forces in the area. 

The Associated Press reported that U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets continued on Wednesday morning, saying the rebels reported strikes on Hodeidah, Marib and Sa’ada governorates. 

On Tuesday evening, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone. The group has previously reported downing several U.S. combat and reconnaissance drones. 

The U.S. military acknowledged the reported downing of the drone, but did not provide any further details. 

Fox News reported that President Donald Trump notified Congress that he had ordered the Department of Defense to deploy additional forces to the Middle East in preparation for further missions against the Houthis, in continuation of the campaign which started on March 15, to destroy the Houthi rebels ability to threaten shipping in the strategic Red Sea and Gulf of Aden waterways. 

In the letter, which is dated March 28, but only released on Tuesday, President Trump notified House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Chuck Grassley that he had instructed the DOD to increase military presence and operations in the area until the Houthis are no longer a threat. 

"I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world," Trump wrote. "We will act to keep Americans safe.”