This is how the Israeli Air Force intercepted the missiles launched this week from Yemen at Israel: The IDF today (Thursday) revealed the documentation of interceptions carried out towards Eilat earlier this week.
"In recent days, the IAF's control and detection systems have identified a cruise missile launched from the southeast towards the airspace of the State of Israel," the IDF Spokesperson said. "The systems tracked the trajectory of the cruise missile and launched fighter planes from the 'Adir' array, which successfully intercepted it. Later that day, the Air Force intercepted a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea area using the Arrow long-range defense system."
Interception of a missile launched from Yemen at Israel // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
In recent days, the Houthis in Yemen have fired missiles at Israeli territory several times, but these were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force.
The faction lived for centuries in the area between northern Yemen and southeastern Saudi Arabia, until in the 60s it suffered a severe blow in the Yemeni revolution, which sought to base "Yemeni unity" on nationality rather than religion. That is, to unite Sunni and Shiite Yemenis. This failed miserably, and in 2004 a Shiite uprising broke out in the country. Since then, the war has continued in "rounds", with Hussein Badruddin al-Houthi leading the rebellion.
The Houthis are an Arab tribe of Zaydi in northern Yemen, a Shiite faction loyal to Imam Zeid bin Ali. They recognize the first four imams, while most Shiites, for example in Iran, recognize all 12. However, they believe that an imam can be appointed in any generation.
In 2011, thousands of protests swept through Sanaa, leading then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh to announce that he would not run for office again or hand power to his son. However, the masses demanded an immediate resignation, and the protests quickly deteriorated into a new civil war, which continues with varying intensity to this day. Houthi achievements in the war, culminating in conquering Sana'a and establishing a government.
Houthi military parade in Yemen in September, photo: AP
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