Israel intercepts two missiles launched from Yemen

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen before they crossed into Israeli territory, after sirens sounded in several areas in Israel including Jerusalem.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at Israel in support of Hamas fighters. The United States has been striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15, with US President Donald Trump vowing to hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the group.

The Houthis are an armed movement that has taken control of the most populous parts of Yemen despite nearly a decade of Saudi-led bombing.

The group is also part of what Iran calls the "Axis of Resistance" - a network of anti-Israel, anti-Western regional rebels that also includes the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, whose capabilities Israel significantly reduced in an air and ground campaign last year.