Houthi Attack on Israel: Missile Debris in Yard Raises Alarms Over MIRVs
A Yemeni missile, possibly equipped with advanced MIRV warheads, was intercepted over central Israel, with debris landing in a Moshav Ginaton yard, causing no injuries but raising concerns about escalating Houthi capabilities. The IDF is investigating the incident amid heightened regional tensions following Israeli strikes on Yemen.
On August 22, 2025, at approximately 8:50 p.m., the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detected a ballistic missile launched from Yemen targeting central Israel, triggering air raid sirens across Tel Aviv, Lod, Ramat Gan, and surrounding areas. The IDF’s aerial defense systems, including the Arrow 3 missile defense system, attempted to intercept the missile, which likely fragmented mid-air, scattering debris across Moshav Ginaton near Lod. No physical injuries were reported, though Magen David Adom noted minor injuries from people rushing to shelters.
The IDF stated, “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile was launched from Yemen toward central Israel. Attempts were made to intercept the missile, and the results of the interception are under review. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.” By 9:33 p.m., the IDF confirmed, “An initial review suggests that the missile most likely fragmented in mid-air. During the incident, several attempts to intercept the missile were made by the aerial defense systems.”
The debris landed in the backyard of Ilana Hatomi’s home in Moshav Ginaton. She told reporters, “There was a boom. I was sitting in a shelter, everything exploded, and that was it. Everything can be fixed, it’s just material damage.” Her daughter, Shira, added, “Fortunately, our mother heard the alarm and went into the emergency room. When she came out, she saw that the whole house was covered in glass. It’s lucky that it fell close and not on the house.” The incident followed the IDF’s successful interception of a Yemeni drone near the Gaza border earlier that day.
The Israeli Air Force is now investigating whether the missile employed Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), a sophisticated technology allowing multiple warheads to strike different targets. This marks the first potential use of such advanced weaponry by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched over 70 ballistic missiles and 22 drones at Israel since March 2025, often citing solidarity with Gaza. The attack came hours after Israeli Navy strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen’s Hodeida port, highlighting escalating regional tensions. The IDF’s review aims to assess whether evolving Houthi capabilities pose a new threat to Israel’s multilayered defense systems, including Arrow and David’s Sling.