Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, early on 17 August, producing two large explosions, according to local reports. The raids follow weeks of cross-border exchanges with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Later in the day, warning sirens were activated in Greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other parts of central Israel after Israeli sensors detected a missile launch from Yemen. Initial assessments attributed the projectile to the Houthis, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Israel Defense Forces said it "will continue to respond forcefully to any threat from the Houthis and in any area where we are required to intervene," underscoring the widening geographic scope of Israel’s confrontation with the group. Separately, IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Amir Baram Zamir said the military is "moving to the next phase" of its Gaza campaign. The plan involves deploying four main divisions and tens of thousands of reservists for a ground maneuver, while designating parts of southern Gaza as humanitarian zones to facilitate civilian evacuations.