People are seen in front of the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 19, 2024. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A missile launched by Yemen's Houthi forces struck a school in central Israel on Thursday, causing significant damage, according to Israeli official sources.
The missile, identified by the Houthis as a hypersonic "Palestine-2" missile, triggered air raid sirens across central Israel overnight. The Israeli military initially reported intercepting the missile but later clarified that it was only partially intercepted and struck the school in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv.
An initial investigation by the Israeli Air Force indicated that the missile's warhead exploded upon impact with the school, causing damage.
Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama told reporters the school had been closed due to the damage. "The school's main structure needs to be destroyed, and it will be rebuilt," he said.
The missile attack from Yemen followed an Israeli air offensive targeting major ports in Yemen and the capital, Sanaa. Local media reported at least nine people were killed in the Israeli strikes.
Also on Thursday, a drone launched from the Gaza Strip triggered air raid sirens in nearby Israeli communities before being shot down by the Israeli Air Force. ■
Photo taken on Dec. 19, 2024 shows the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
People are seen in front of the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 19, 2024. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
Rescuers are seen at the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 19, 2024. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
Rescuers work at the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 19, 2024. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
Photo taken on Dec. 19, 2024 shows the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
A man is seen near the building of a school damaged in a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi forces, in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 19, 2024. (Yossi Zeliger/JINI via Xinhua)
