Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen yesterday, with AFP journalists reporting explosions heard in the Jerusalem area.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," a military statement said after earlier announcing it had "identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory".

Meanwhile, some 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 ships stuck for weeks off Yemen's port of Ras Isa are preparing to offload cargoes and leave thanks to a ceasefire deal between Houthi militia and the US, maritime and labour union sources said on Thursday.

Still, threat levels for shipping remained high given the Houthis' confirmation that Israeli-related assets remained open to attack and the attendant risks to broader shipping, maritime officials said.

Ships with no connection to Israel had been targeted in the past with no certainty of safe passage, reports Reuters.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen as they had agreed to stop targeting US ships in Red Sea waters off the Arabian Peninsula country.

However, the deal does not cover close US ally Israel, the Houthis stated on Wednesday.