Sana'a – Yemen’s Houthi movement announced Friday that it had launched three drone strikes deep inside Israeli territory, targeting strategic sites in Lod, Beersheba, and Ashkelon. 

The attacks mark a dramatic escalation in the group’s involvement in the broader Middle East conflict, as it positions itself as a military actor in solidarity with Gaza.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthi-led Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a televised statement that the operations were “qualitative and successful,” claiming the drones struck Ben Gurion Airport in Lod and undisclosed “vital targets” in Beersheba and Ashkelon. He warned international shipping companies operating in Israeli ports that their vessels “will be targeted regardless of destination” unless they cease cooperation.

Israeli military sources confirmed that two drones were intercepted without triggering air raid sirens, in line with current defense protocols. However, footage and reports from regional media suggest that at least one drone may have reached its target, causing panic and temporary disruption.

The strikes come just days after the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a hypersonic missile—dubbed “Palestine-2”—toward Ben Gurion Airport, in retaliation for what they described as Israeli provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque.