ISLAMABAD: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said it launched a “large number” of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel on Tuesday after Israel’s military said it downed an approaching “aerial target” off the Red Sea city of Eilat.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated that this was the third operation targeting Israel, and they intend to continue these attacks until what they perceive as “Israeli aggression” in the context of the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip ceases.
Following an initial alert about a potential “hostile aircraft intrusion” that prompted residents in the tourist resort of Eilat to seek shelter earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military reported that their systems detected an approaching aerial target within Israeli territory. The military stressed that there was no threat or danger to civilians, and the defensive measures taken were successful. There were no reports of missiles or drones striking Israeli territory from the Red Sea on that Tuesday.
On October 10, Yemen’s Houthi leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, stated that if the United States directly intervenes in the Gaza conflict, the Houthi group would respond by launching drones, missiles, and exploring other military options.
The Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, is designated as a terrorist organization by some countries and international entities, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They have been involved in an armed conflict in Yemen and have received support from Iran.
However, it’s important to note that there are differing opinions on the classification of the Houthi group as a terrorist organization, and not all countries or organizations share this designation.
The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, is a rebel group that originated in Yemen. They consider themselves part of the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Iranian-backed factions in Iraq and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group.
The Houthi movement has been involved in a conflict with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, resulting in a significant number of casualties.
During the fighting, the Houthis targeted strategic assets in the Gulf, including energy facilities in Saudi Arabia. There have also been incidents involving the Houthi movement and Israel, with accusations of drone attacks and missile launches.
Additionally, the Pentagon reported that a US Navy warship intercepted Houthi-launched cruise missiles and drones potentially headed toward Israel on October 19.
