Yemen's Houthi rebels fired a missile early Wednesday at northern Israel — a rare move by the group, especially as they continue to face heavy U.S. airstrikes that have been going on for a month. The Houthis also said they shot down another MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. According to the Israeli military, warning sirens went off in Haifa, Krayot, and other areas near the Sea of Galilee. 

An interceptor was launched toward the missile, and the Israeli military said it was most likely a successful interception. People in the area heard loud booms in the early morning darkness. The Houthis did not immediately take responsibility for the attack. Sometimes, it takes them several hours or even days to confirm their involvement. Meanwhile, American airstrikes continued on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing campaign that started on March 15. The Houthis reported that the airstrikes hit areas in the Hodeida, Marib, and Saada governorates. In Marib, the Houthis said a strike targeted telecommunication equipment, which has been a common target for American forces in the past. The Houthis have increased their attacks on American drones flying over Yemen. On Tuesday night, Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the rebels shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.

The U.S. military confirmed they were aware of the report about the drone being shot down but did not provide any further details. Saree claimed the rebels used a locally made missile to take down the drone. The Houthis have access to surface-to-air missiles, including the Iranian-made 358 missile, which is capable of shooting down aircraft. The Houthis also claim they have brought down 26 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the past 10 years of the Yemen conflict. Although Iran denies supplying weapons to the Houthis, Iranian-made arms have been found on the battlefield and in shipments headed to the rebels, despite a United Nations ban on arms transfers to Yemen.

The MQ-9 Reaper, made by General Atomics, costs about $30 million each. These drones can fly higher than 40,000 feet (around 12,100 meters) and stay in the air for more than 30 hours. Both the U.S. military and the CIA have used them for missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Yemen. 

The US is focusing on the Houthis due to their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, an important global trade route, and their actions against Israel. The Houthis are the last group in Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance that can consistently target Israel. The new US operation against the Houthis, under President Donald Trump, is more extensive than the actions taken under President Joe Biden, according to an AP review. This new campaign began after the rebels threatened to start targeting Israeli ships again in response to Israel blocking aid from reaching Gaza.

Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 merchant ships, sinking two and killing four sailors. This has significantly disrupted trade in the Red Sea, a key route where goods worth around USD 1 trillion are typically shipped every year. The Houthis also attempted to target American warships, but those attacks were unsuccessful.

It has been hard to assess the impact of the US airstrike campaign that started last month because the military hasn't shared details about the strikes, such as what was targeted or how many people were killed. The Houthis, on the other hand, tightly control access to areas that have been attacked and do not release full details about the strikes, many of which likely target military and security sites. Last week, an attack on the Ras Isa fuel port resulted in at least 74 deaths and 171 injuries, making it the deadliest known attack of the American campaign.