Thursday, March 21, 2024

Houthi Cruise Missile Hits Israel in Ominous First


Houthi Cruise Missile Hits Israel in Ominous First
Brendan Cole



Yemen's Houthis have claimed responsibility for a cruise missile launched from the Red Sea which landed near Eilat, in what marks the first time a projectile fired from the Iranian-backed group has struck Israel's territory.

The Iran-aligned militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at international commercial shipping in the region since November, in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's military assault in Gaza.

Previously, missiles and drones fired from Yemen had hit neighboring countries or were intercepted by air defenses.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday it had tracked a "suspicious aerial target" which it confirmed was a cruise missile, The Times of Israel reported. No damage or injuries were caused and Newsweek has contacted the IDF for comment.

The Houthis also targeted the Marshall Islands-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker MADO in the Red Sea with naval missiles, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said.

Although the Houthi rebels described the tanker as American, Equasis's shipping database says it was owned by the Greek company Naftomar.

The Houthis claimed it targets vessels with connections to Israel but it has frequently hit vessels with no clear links to the country, disrupting global shipping.

In a separate attack on Tuesday, Houthi rebels blew up a house in a town southeast of the capital, Sanaa, killing at least nine people from the same family, the Associated Press reported. It came a day after two Houthi fighters were killed in an ambush allegedly set up by the house's owner.



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