Air-raid sirens sounded in Israel shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Friday as the Israel Defense Forces announced that the Israeli Air Force’s Arrow 3 exoatmospheric hypersonic missile platform intercepted a ballistic projectile fired by the Houthis from Yemen.
The threat caused civilian aircraft to be diverted from their flight paths, causing landing delays, although Ben-Gurion International Airport soon resumed normal service.
Missile fragments fell in the Beit Fajar area, south of Bethlehem in Judea.
This morning’s attack tested the IDF’s new warning system, which is supposed to send out an alert before the sirens are sounded. It worked with mixed results. Many users reported that the IDF Spokesperson’s announcement triggered news alerts in the media, but this was not coupled with receipt of an advance alert via the Home Front Command app. Other users did report receiving the alert in advance.
The missile attack from Yemen came after a night of significant American airstrikes targeting the Houthis. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday night that it had destroyed the Ras Isa fuel port, which is under the control of the rebels, near the port of Hodeidah in northwestern Yemen.
According to the U.S. military, the objective of the strike was “to damage the Houthis’ economic power source.”
The Houthis reported that at least 38 people were killed in the strike, including port workers and rescue personnel, and at least 102 others were injured. Yemeni media published footage of fires and massive fireballs at the port. This was one of the deadliest U.S. strikes in Yemen since the American military’s “Operation Rough Rider” against the Houthis began on March 15.
“The Houthis continued to derive economic and military benefit from countries and companies providing material support to the terrorist organization,” said U.S. Central Command following the strike. “The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to support their military operations and generate economic profits from import revenues. This fuel should be legitimately supplied to the people of Yemen. Ships deliver fuel through the Ras Isa port, and profits from these illegal sales directly fund the Houthis and their terror efforts.”
“The goal was to harm the Houthis’ economic power source, as they continue to exploit their fellow countrymen and cause them immense suffering,” the statement said.
CENTCOM emphasized: “This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to rid themselves of the Houthis and live in peace. The Houthis, their Iranian patrons, and those who knowingly support their terrorist activities must understand that the world will not accept illegal smuggling of fuel and weapons to a terrorist organization.”