Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis launch two missiles towards Israel

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(Corrects ‘missile’ to ‘missiles’ in headline)

(Reuters) -Israel launched an interceptor towards a second missile fired from Yemen on Friday, its military said, as the U.S. intensifies its strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi group.

The militant group claimed responsibility for firing two missiles thousands of kilometres north targeting Israel’s Ramat David air base and the Tel Aviv area.

Alarms were activated in several areas, the military added after the launch of both missiles, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

The military said earlier on Friday it had intercepted the first missile launched from Yemen. It said the results of the interception of the second were under review.

U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from attacking ships in the Red Sea.

The deadly strikes on the group were the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.

The Houthis say their attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping are in solidarity with the Palestinians over the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

The group pledged to expand its range of targets in Israel in retaliation for a renewed offensive in Gaza that began two months ago.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Alex Richardson)