Tel Aviv, March 21 -- Rocket sirens blared across central Israel on Thursday afternoon as three rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, marking the first such attack in months. The launch came as Israeli forces recaptured areas of northern Gaza near Beit Lahiya and hours after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired a missile that sent millions of Israelis scrambling to bomb shelters.

The Israel Defense Forces said one of the rockets launched from Gaza was intercepted while the others landed in open areas. Shrapnel fell in Rishon LeZion but no injuries or property damage was reported.

The alarm was heard in several major cities, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Holon, Or Yehuda, and Rishon LeZion.

The rocket fire also came just hours after...