An American missile defense system was used for the first time to intercept a retaliatory attack launched by Yemen’s Houthis rebels at Israel’s central airport overnight as threats continue to escalate between the Jewish state and Iran’s terror proxies.
The projectile, targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, was intercepted outside Israel’s airspace using a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that was deployed by the United States in Israel this year, Reuters reported, citing an anonymous source.
“18 years I’ve been waiting for this,” an American soldier could be heard saying in footage posted to social media showing the THAAD system launching an interceptor.
3 Staff stand near broken windows as they inspect the damage at the airport in Sana’a International Airport in Yemen’s capital a day after Israeli airstrikes targeted the structure. YAHYA ARHAB/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
President Biden placed the anti-missile system, along with about 100 US soldiers, in Israel to help defend the country following Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on the Jewish state, the outlet reported.
The THADD system generally consists of six, truck-mounted launchers, 49 interceptors and radio and radar equipment, with 95 soldiers needed to operate.
The latest attack — the fifth in the past eight days — triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas overnight. Flights were reportedly halted for 30 minutes and about 18 people suffered minor injuries escaping to bomb shelters, The Times of Israel reported.
Israel launched a multi-wave attack across Yemen on Thursday in retaliation for Houthi missiles and drone strikes, hitting key infrastructure like Sana’a International Airport in the Yemeni capital, as well as power plants in Aziz and Ras Cantib.
3 Yemen’s Houthi followers brandish weapons and chant slogans against Israel. Getty Images
Israel Defense Forces warplanes also took out key infrastructure in the ports of Hodeidah, al-Salif and Ras Cantib on Yemen’s western coast.
Israel said the facilities it targeted were used by Houthi terrorists to shuttle Iranian weapons to the region, and demonstrated how the group uses “civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes.”
3 The damaged control tower of Sana’a International Airport on Dec. 27. AFP via Getty Images
At least six people were killed during the attack, according to Houthi-run media.
Houthi rebels have been a continuous thorn in the side of both Israel and international shipping companies since Hamas attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023.
They have repeatedly attacked cargo and tanker ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and have also launched missiles and drones at US forces stationed in the region.
The Houthis have previously promised to continue their harassment of Israel so long as the war in Gaza persists.
At least 200 missiles and 170 drones have been launched into Israel by the terror group in the past year.
With Post wires
US THAAD system used in Israel to intercept attack from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen
