SANAA, Yemen: Yemeni Huthi rebels Friday claimed they had launched a barrage of missiles toward Israeli city of Eilat and threatened to continue military operations until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza.
Israel’s military earlier said its “Arrow” air defense system intercepted a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea region on Friday.
The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on shipping and other targets in the Red Sea region in what they describe as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians, raising fears that the war between Israel and Hamas could widen and destabilize the wider Middle East.
“The Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to carry out further military operations against the Zionist enemy on land and at sea until the cessation of aggression and lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip,” the Houthis’ military spokesperson said.
The US has stepped up operations against the Houthis in a recent effort to bring their attack on commercial shipping under control.
This is the second time Israel has activated its Arrow-3 defence system to protect against Houthi rockets.
The first use of the Arrow-3 in November was hailed as the first instance of space warfare, with discussion of how it could change warfare in the Middle East.
