Houthi spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation had successfully achieved its objectives and that the attack coincided with Israeli aggression on Yemeni cities.
Saare indicated that Yemen’s response came within the framework of a legitimate and natural reaction to Israeli aggression.
Saree also said that the operation was “in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and in response to the massacres of our brothers in Gaza, as part of the fifth phase of support in the battle of the promised conquest and holy jihad and within the framework of responding to Israeli aggression on our country”.
The Yemeni military spokesman stressed that the Israeli aggression would not deter Yemen or the Yemeni people “from fulfilling their religious and moral duty to respond to the massacres in Gaza, as well as this blatant aggression”.
Israeli media reported that a multi-story school building in Ramat Gan collapsed after being hit by a warhead from a partially intercepted ballistic missile fired by the Houthis into Israel.
The building will reportedly be completely demolished and rebuilt.
Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen estimated the damage at $11 million and said the Ramat Ef’al Elementary School would receive a replacement building.
The Israel Defense Forces initially said they had intercepted a missile fired by the Yemeni Houthis into central Israel overnight. It said parts of the missile or interceptor fell to the ground, with one piece hitting the school’s main building, destroying it.
However, later on Thursday, the military said that an initial investigation suggested the school was likely hit by the warhead of the missile after it was partially intercepted.
(photo: Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
