Israel Deploys Warships to Red Sea as Houthis Declare War
In response to Yemen’s Houthis declaring war and launching a ballistic missile at an Israeli city, Israel has deployed warships to the Red Sea. The Israeli military released images showing Sa’ar-class corvettes patrolling near Eilat port, viewing the Red Sea as a new front amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has drawn retaliation from Iran-backed forces in the region.
The Houthis announced on Tuesday that they had launched three drone and missile attacks on Israel since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7. They have vowed to continue these attacks “to help the Palestinians to victory.”
In a significant move, the Israeli military deployed its Arrow missile defense system for the first time to intercept an “aerial threat” over the Red Sea, believed to be a ballistic missile.
Tzachi Hanegbi, the Israeli national security adviser, condemned the Houthi attacks as intolerable but did not provide further details on how Israel might respond.
The Houthis, who are part of the Iran-aligned regional alliance hostile to Israel and the United States, have support from Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
It is worth noting that the Houthis control large portions of Yemen, including the capital city of Sanaa, which is over a thousand miles away from Israel.
Since October 7, missiles and drones fired at Israel from the Red Sea area have either been intercepted or fallen short.
Israel has also accused the Houthis of being responsible for a drone attack on October 27 that caused explosions in two Egyptian towns on the Red Sea, stating that the intended target was Israel.
In conclusion, Israel’s deployment of warships to the Red Sea comes as a response to the Houthis’ declaration of war and their continued attacks on Israeli cities. This move demonstrates Israel’s commitment to defending itself from threats emanating from the region.
