DUBAI, UAE - The Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen early Thursday, targeting the capital Sanaa and the coastal province of Hodeidah. The attacks came hours after Israel intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen toward Tel Aviv.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the operation had been planned for weeks, involving dozens of fighter jets. The decision to expedite the strikes was made after the missile launch, an unnamed Israeli official told American outlet Axios.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday morning claimed their forces had fired two missiles toward Tel Aviv.

“The regime in Iran funds, arms, and directs the Houthi terror activities,” Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a video statement. “We will continue to act against anyone, anyone in the Middle East that threatens the state of Israel, and we will defend the people of Israel.”

Over the past 14 months, the Houthis have carried out “hundreds of missile and UAV attacks” against Israel, Hagari said.

In a stern warning to the Houthi leadership, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened, “whoever raises a hand against the State of Israel will have their hand cut off.”

“We will strike with force and will not allow shooting and threats against the State of Israel,” he added.

The airstrikes hit key infrastructure in Sanaa, including electricity stations in Haziz and Dhahban, according to the Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah TV channel. It reported four strikes on the Haziz station in southern Sanaa and two on Dhahban in the north.

At least nine people were killed in the attack, according to al-Masirah.

Civil defense teams managed to extinguish fires at the Dhahban station while efforts continued at Haziz.