An American missile defense system was used for the first time to intercept a retaliatory attack launched by Yemen’s Houthis rebels at Israel’s central airport overnight as threats continue to escalate between the Jewish state and Iran’s terror proxies.

As officials caution that ballistic missile and drone attacks from Yemen are likely to persist, Jerusalem is indicating that Thursday’s strikes are

SANAA - Yemeni rebels claimed new attacks against Israel on Dec 27, after Israeli air strikes hit rebel-held Sanaa’s international airport and other targets in Yemen.

Israel has severely weakened Hamas and Hezbollah. Now it's going after another member of Iran's so-called axis of resistance: the Houthi rebels of Yemen.

Israel launches waves of attacks across Yemen in retaliation for Houthi missile and drone strikes Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel Defense Forces warplanes hit Sanaa International Airport in the capital, which is controlled by the Houthis. Sources in Yemen also reported strikes on the port city of Hodeida.

An official says the Yemeni group will not stop until the war in Gaza ends, as Israel's PM says it is "just getting started".

The strikes come as Israelis endure continued rocket attacks from the Houthi militia in Yemen even as attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have diminished.

An advanced U.S. military anti-missile system was used in Israel to try to intercept a projectile for the first time since President Joe Biden placed the system in Israel in October, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.