Warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv in the early hours of Friday as air defence intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, the Israeli military said.

A post by the military on social media platform X said that millions of Israelis were seeking shelter in the centre of the country after the rocket alert.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Explosions heard in the early hours were due to the missile being intercepted from Yemen, the military said.

On Wednesday, warning sirens rang out across Tel Aviv for the first time since May as Israel’s air defence intercepted a missile fired from Lebanon.

It was the first time Lebanese Hezbollah militia had targeted Tel Aviv, in central Israel, since the war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023.

Following a fatal drone attack on Tel Aviv by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this year, the Israeli Air Force attacked the port city of Hodeidah in July, leading to a massive fire and six deaths.

Houthi leaders subsequently announced a new phase in the fight against Israel.

The Houthi militants have also been attacking ships in the Red Sea, saying the attacks are intended to support Hamas and force an end to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

(dpa/NAN)