A Jerusalem home was hit by shrapnel after Houthi rebels in Yemen launched at least one ballistic missile at central Israel on Monday afternoon.
Police reported Monday night that shrapnel from the huge missile fell on to the roof of a residential building in the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, crashing into the apartment beneath.
The Israel Defense Forces said the missile was intercepted by Israel’s long-range Arrow aerial defense system before it reached Israeli territory. However, due to the high altitude of the interception, pieces of shrapnel from the missile landed in many different parts of the country.
Another piece of shrapnel landed in the Jewish community of Leshem, in Samaria.
Magen David Adom and the police both said there were no reports of injuries, other than those of five people who were hurt while racing for cover in Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva, Kfar Saba, Em Ha’Moshavot Interchange and Holon.
Red Alert sirens were triggered in Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion and Herzliya, among other central cities, sending millions of Israelis running to bomb shelters and safe spaces.
“The Red Alert was activated in response to concerns over the risk from falling shrapnel from the interception,” the IDF said.
Residents of Gush Etzion south of Jerusalem said they heard the “booms” from the attack.
“Yeminis and Houthis in particular should be aware that Israel’s patience is not inexhaustible,” Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer warned a few minutes later in a briefing.
“The Houthis will understand, as Hezbollah understands and as Hamas understands, that Israel’s patience is not inexhaustible,” Mencer reiterated.
Earlier in the day, a drone launched by the Iranian proxy group in Yemen was intercepted over the Mediterranean Sea by an Israeli Navy missile boat.
The drone was shot down before it reached Israeli airspace.
