IDF announces new advance alert system for long-range missile threats

Israel Defense Forces announced on Thursday that it is introducing a new advanced alert system for confronting the ongoing long-range missile threats from Iran and its terror proxy in Yemen, the Houthi rebels group.

The IDF Home Front Command app is designed to issue a pre-warning between three to five minutes before sirens are activated ahead of incoming long-range missiles from Iran or Yemen.

The app is accompanied by a message from the Israeli military spokesperson stating, “Missile fire from Yemen toward the State of Israel may occur in the coming minutes.” The primary goal of the new alert system is to enhance public readiness and maximize security amid missile threats from multiple fronts.

In the event of an alert, the public is instructed to enter protected areas and remain there for at least 10 minutes, or until further instructions are issued. A missile launched from Yemen takes roughly 10 minutes to reach Israeli territory.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia has fired hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. While the Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Gaza, the antisemitic jihadist group openly calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Because of the long distance between Yemen and Israel, the Houthis initially played a smaller role in Iran’s proxy war against Israel. However, after Israel weakened Hamas and Hezbollah in 2024, the Houthis have become the most active Iranian-backed group currently fighting Israel.

In December 2024, 16 Israelis were lightly injured when a Houthi missile struck southern Tel Aviv, following a failure in the country’s alert system. The Israeli Air Force quickly responded with large-scale aerial strikes on key Houthi targets, including Sana’a International Airport in the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen.

After the collapse of the ceasefire between Hamas in Israel last month, the Houthis resumed their missile attacks against the Jewish state.

In mid-March, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered large-scale U.S. military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen.

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY,” Trump warned in a post on his media platform, Truth Social.

“IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” he wrote.

The Trump administration has reportedly asked the Israeli government to focus on the threat from Hezbollah and Hamas and let the U.S. military manage the Houthi threat. Washington believes that U.S. strikes on the Houthis will be more effective due to its ability to launch sustained attacks using fighter jets deployed from its substantial naval assets in the region.

The U.S. military strikes have reportedly inflicted considerable damage on the Houthi militia. However, despite the ongoing offensive, Houthi terrorists launched a missile at Israel on Friday. Air raid sirens were activated in Jerusalem and central Israel. The missile was successfully intercepted, and no casualties or physical damage were reported.

In late March, Israeli officials estimated that the Houthis only have a “few dozen” ballistic missiles left in their stockpile.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Trump's military strikes against the Houthis.

“I greatly appreciate the actions of our ally, the U.S.,” Netanyahu stated last month.

“They are dealing with them very forcefully. Of course, we are acting to defend ourselves, as has happened recently. But the fact that the U.S. has gone in there vigorously is a major change,” the prime minister added.