Tel Aviv, Sep 15 (V7N)– Yemen has launched its first hypersonic ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, Israel, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The missile, aimed at a military target in the Jaffa area south of Tel Aviv, caused no reported casualties or damage. However, the attack led to mass panic, forcing over two million Israelis to take refuge in shelters.

In a televised address on Sunday, Brigadier General Yahya Sari, spokesman for the Yemeni army, confirmed the missile operation, stating that it traveled 2,040 kilometers in just 11 and a half minutes, bypassing Israeli and U.S. defense systems. The missile, according to Sari, was part of the Yemeni military’s ongoing campaign against Israel, which has escalated significantly in recent months.

"This attack has created fear among the occupiers, and it is just the beginning," Sari said. He further warned that more missile strikes on Israel are expected in the coming days as Yemen enters the fifth phase of its war against the "Israeli enemy."

Iran-based Press TV reported that the Israeli military has acknowledged the attack, though no official response has been issued regarding the extent of the threat or the defensive measures taken.

The missile strike comes after the October 7 military operation launched by Hamas against Israel, which has triggered an ongoing cycle of violence. Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and left over a million injured. The escalating violence has drawn international concern, with various factions, including Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement, joining the conflict.

The Houthis have increased their attacks on Israeli and allied ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in protest of the violence in Gaza. Yemen has also declared U.S. and British vessels legitimate targets in the region, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.

This missile strike represents a significant development in the broader Middle Eastern conflict, underscoring the growing reach and capability of Yemen’s missile program.

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