In a historic event, Israel utilized its Arrow missile-defense system to intercept a ballistic missile outside of Earth’s atmosphere, marking the first combat to occur in space. The missile was launched by the Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen and traveled nearly 1,000 miles over the Arabian peninsula towards its intended target, the Israeli port city of Eilat. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have not provided many details about the interception, but it is known that the Air Force operates multiple batteries of the Arrow 2 system, which employs a hypersonic interceptor to eliminate incoming missiles in space. The IDF released a video showing the moment of interception, where the faint shape of the ballistic missile can be seen before an explosion engulfs the screen. The interception occurred “at the most appropriate operational time and location,” according to the IDF. Pictures from Eilat depict a smoke trail from the Arrow interceptor, while residents reported hearing a loud explosion. The Houthis also released footage claiming to show the launch of the missile as part of an attack on Israeli towns and cities using drones and other long-range weapons. The ballistic missile, identified as a Qader missile, is an enhanced version of the Iranian-designed Shahab 3. With a length of over 50 feet, the Qader carries a high-explosive warhead and possesses a range that puts all of Israel within striking distance. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have declared war on Israel and form a significant part of the Iran-backed alliance against the country. The Arrow system, developed jointly by the US and Israel 25 years ago, was specifically designed to counter this type of threat. It was originally created to defend Israeli cities after they were targeted by Iraqi Scud missiles during the first Gulf War. While the system had been used in the past to intercept a Syrian surface-to-air missile, the recent interception marked its first utilization for its intended purpose. An Israeli defense official stated that the successful interception not only protected the residents of Eilat and dealt a blow to the Houthis but also demonstrated Israel’s capability to act against Iran’s missile program, carrying broader implications for the regional conflict. Following the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent Israeli response in Gaza, the Houthis have launched several attacks involving drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, pledging further assaults to support the Palestinians.
Israel Achieves Historic Milestone: Successfully Intercepting Ballistic Missile in Space
