At 2:39 a.m., Wednesday night, sirens blared in Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel as the Houthis launched a ballistic missile targeting the area.
The IDF confirmed the interception of the missile, stating, "Following the sirens in central Israel, the IAF intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it crossed into Israeli territory. Alerts were triggered due to the possibility of falling debris from the interception." Explosions were reported by residents, and fragments from the interception caused severe damage to a school in the Ramat Ef’al neighborhood of Ramat Gan, along with nearby vehicles.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reported no injuries, though several individuals were treated for shock or sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter.
The Ramat Gan municipality issued a statement: "Upon receiving reports, Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen arrived at the scene with municipal teams led by Director General Motti Cohen. A large-scale collapse was identified in the central building of the school, rendering it unusable until further notice."
As a precaution, grades 1-4 and special education students will temporarily attend nearby schools, while older students will continue studies remotely.
Mayor Shama-Hacohen reflected on the incident, saying: "The night ended with extraordinary luck for the residents of Ramat Gan. As both the mayor and a parent of a student at Ef’al School, I shudder to think of the outcome had this occurred during school hours. Fortunately, the building’s protected construction ensured no lives were lost."
