Alarm sirens rang across central Israel early Friday morning following reports of a ballistic missile launched from Yemen.

Israeli media revealed that the missile targeted Tel Aviv, sending shockwaves through the region as 17 Israeli settlers were injured in the attack.

The missile strike set off alarms across Tel Aviv and several southern settlements, including Gush Dan, Sharon, and the coastal plain north of Tel Aviv. In response, operations at Ben Gurion Airport were reportedly halted, with all flights suspended.

Israeli Channel 14 criticized the country's air defense systems, noting their recent failings, particularly in southern areas. The broadcaster expressed deep concern over the situation, describing the incident as a significant security lapse.

Israeli media claimed that Yemen has developed a missile that evades radar detection, allowing potential strikes on Tel Aviv without warning. This development has been labeled as highly troubling by security experts.

While the Israeli military claimed that the missile was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli airspace, Yemeni officials cast doubt on the narrative. High-ranking Yemeni sources called Tel Aviv and other areas unsafe, suggesting that Israel’s defenses were inadequate to fully neutralize the threat.

Yemen’s Armed Forces are expected to release a statement soon, outlining details of the operation, which reportedly targeted multiple locations.

Earlier in the week, Yemen's Defense Minister, Mohammad al-Atifi, warned that Sanaa would continue to launch ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, as well as drone attacks, deep into Israeli territory.

He emphasized that these strikes, such as those targeting Tel Aviv (Yafa) and Eilat (Umm al-Rashrash), would persist as long as Israeli actions threatened Yemen. Al-Atifi also hinted at further "surprises" for the Israeli occupation.

The escalating tension between Yemen and Israel has drawn international attention, as the Yemeni government in Sanaa remains committed to striking Israel and its allies in response to Gaza genocide. (ILKHA)