Yemen’s Houthis are expected to release a statement from their military spokesman shortly, following what appears to be two separate waves of drone attacks launched over the past six hours targeting Eilat, in southern Israel. One video circulating online shows the interception of a Houthi UAV by the @IAFsite over the Arava region, near Eilat, earlier today. Another video captures the sirens sounding in the area as the attacks unfolded.
Meanwhile, the @IDF addressed the incident, stating that alerts were activated earlier following reports of a possible hostile aircraft infiltration over Eilat and Be’er Ora. The military later clarified that it was likely a false identification and confirmed that the event has concluded, though it noted that the details remain under investigation.
The IDF confirms carrying out airstrikes against "military infrastructure" at the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida in western Yemen. The port is used by the Houthis to smuggle weapons to Yemen from Iran, which are then used in attacks on Israel and its allies, the military says. The strikes come following repeated Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel, the latest on Sunday.
In the past hour, a missile launched from Yemen triggered alerts across the Dan region, Shephelah, Judea, Jerusalem, Yarkon, Lachish, and Samaria. The missile was successfully intercepted over Eilat, but as a precaution, Israeli airspace was closed. Prime Minister @netanyahu's official plane, "Zion Wing," was forced to make an emergency landing at Eilat Airport, flying low over the city during the tense incident.
In rare footage, a Houthi Samad-series drone is seen striking the side of an alleged hotel in Eilat.
Afterwards, a Houthi military spokesman claimed that their missile unit had launched a Palestine II hypersonic ballistic missile targeting what he described as a “sensitive” military site in Tel Aviv, adding that the strike was successful and caused millions of settlers to flee to shelters. The spokesman also stated that Houthi drone forces carried out attacks on multiple sites in Eilat using three drones in the first wave, followed by a second wave that targeted Beersheba with a single drone.
For its part, the IDF reported that it intercepted two unmanned aircraft earlier in the evening that had been launched from Yemen, noting that no alerts were activated in accordance with operational policy, while confirming that it is investigating the fall of a UAV in Eilat airspace.
Some 20 Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped more than 65 munitions on Houthi targets in Sanaa this afternoon, marking the highest number of munitions used in a single IAF strike in Yemen, according to the military.In all, seven targets were struck, including five military headquarters where Houthi operatives were gathered, and two weapon storage facilities, the IDF says.Aerial refuelings were also conducted during the operation.
For the second time in under a month the Saudis intercepted Ansarallah missiles/drones over Medina, the city with the the second holiest sites in Islam
There are currently no high level talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia AFAIK, although the Iranians did/do have a habit of activating their proxies during tense negotiations as to create leverage. These Ansarallah provocations are more likely to be connected to the alleged Saudi-Emirati plans to renew a ground offensive against Ansarallah, or to the alleged Aden government's intention to join the Abraham Accords.Looks like their efforts to intimidate the Saudis - attacking ships off the Saudi coast, timing attacks with Saudi-Iran talks - didn't work.
There are currently no high level talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia
I don't know if I am right about this, but I would imagine this case will be more of a harm to the Houthi cause than a help.
Iranian foreign minister was in Saudi Arabia meeting with MBS in July when "Magic Seas" and "Eternity C" were attacked.
I don't know if I am right about this, but I would imagine this case will be more of a harm to the Houthi cause than a help.
Depends how You define their cause.
The way I see it, these attacks happened at the time when the Iranian foreign minister was visiting Saudi Arabia to meet the crown prince and other high ranking dignitaries. Coincidence? I think not. I think these attacks were launched to demonstrate that Iran, despite American and Israeli strikes, retains some power in the region.
Also notice how the Saudi media is minimizing Ansarallah intentionally shooting missiles over Saudi cities (whereas before the trajectory would be the Red Sea), the stories are barely mentioned in Saudi media.