Yemen-based Houthis — the last of Iran-backed groups still fully present in the regional war that began 14 months ago — are slowly escalating attacks on Israel with an eye to avoid full-out retaliation.

Multiple air raids have hit several targets in rebel-held areas of Yemen, witnesses and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels said, with their media saying Israel launched the strikes.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles at Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians since the conflict in Gaza began more than a year ago. Most have been intercepted, but on Saturday an attack that hit Tel Aviv wounded 16 people, prompting a warning from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Yemen-based Houthi militant group said Wednesday it fired a ballistic missile at the Tel Aviv area in central Israel, an attack that prompted air raid sirens to sound but caused no damage. Israel’s military said it intercepted the missile before it crossed into Israeli territory.