DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Wednesday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile aimed at northern Israel, marking the first time the group has reached this area amid ongoing American airstrikes targeting them. In a separate incident, the Houthis claimed to have successfully shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen.
The sounds of sirens echoed in Haifa, Krayot, and other regions west of the Sea of Galilee, according to Israeli military reports. “An interceptor was launched at the missile, which likely intercepted it successfully,” stated the Israeli forces. Predawn residents reported hearing loud booms amidst the darkness.
Later, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack via a prerecorded message, asserting that Haifa was targeted with a hypersonic missile. While Saree had made similar claims in the past, this was the first instance acknowledged by the Israeli military where the attack reached the specified area.
Meanwhile, the ongoing American airstrikes continued to strike at Houthi targets on Wednesday, as part of a campaign initiated on March 15. The Houthis reported these strikes affected the governorates of Hodeida, Marib, and Saada. A strike in Marib reportedly targeted telecommunication infrastructure, a previously identified target for American forces.
In response, the Houthis have intensified their efforts against drones operating in Yemeni airspace. On Tuesday night, Saree announced that rebels had brought down an MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen’s Hajjah governorate. While the U.S. military acknowledged reports about the downed drone, they opted not to elaborate.
Saree mentioned the use of a locally crafted missile in downing the drone. The Houthis possess surface-to-air missiles like the Iranian ‘358’ missile, which is capable of shooting aircraft down. Over the past decade of the Yemen conflict, the Houthis claim to have downed 26 MQ-9 drones.
Despite repeated denials from Tehran regarding the provision of arms to the Houthis, Iranian-made weaponry has been discovered both on the battlefield and in intercepted sea shipments headed to Yemen, violating a UN arms embargo.
General Atomics Reapers, valued at about $30 million each, have capabilities to operate above 40,000 feet and maintain flight for over 30 hours, utilized by the U.S. military and CIA in operations across Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.
Launched on March 15, the renewed U.S. air campaign aims to curb Houthi aggression towards shipping routes in the Red Sea, crucial for global trade, as well as its threats to Israel. The group remains the lone militant faction in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” consistently attacking Israel.
This new initiative, started under the administration of President Donald Trump, is broader in scope compared to previous operations against the group during President Joe Biden’s term, as revealed by an internal review. The campaign was triggered following threats by the rebels to target “Israeli” vessels should their blockade persist in preventing aid from reaching the Gaza Strip.
Between November 2023 and January of the following year, the Houthis struck over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the loss of four sailors. These attacks have significantly disrupted the usual flow of goods through the Red Sea, a corridor responsible for the transit of $1 trillion worth of merchandise annually. The Houthis have also launched assaults on American warships, albeit unsuccessfully.
Determining the impact of this month-long U.S. airstrike campaign is challenging owing to the absence of detailed military disclosures about the operations. The Houthis, keeping tight control over the areas affected by these strikes, do not provide comprehensive casualty or damage reports. Most targets likely include sites of military or security significance.
A recent strike on the Ras Isa fuel port resulted in the death of at least 74 individuals, while 171 were injured, marking the deadliest attack witnessed in the ongoing U.S. campaign.
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Reports from local sources in Nahariya, Israel, also contributed to this coverage.