New Delhi:
The American Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection (THAAD) missile defence system was used to intercept a ballistic missile launched at Israel from Yemen yesterday. The missile was reportedly fired by the Houthi rebels, a gaggle backed by Iran.
The THAAD system, deployed in Israel by the USA in October, was activated to intercept the missile for the primary time, the Instances of Israel reported. Footage circulated on social media displaying the system launching an interceptor, accompanied by the voice of an American soldier exclaiming, “Eighteen years I have been ready for this.”
Whereas the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF) confirmed the missile’s interception, they didn’t specify whether or not the system used was Israeli or American. Nevertheless, safety sources advised the Walla information web site that THAAD had efficiently engaged the missile, the report mentioned.
The deployment of THAAD in Israel adopted an October 1 ballistic missile assault by Iran. The superior system is able to intercepting missiles each inside and outdoors the Earth’s environment.
מערכת ה- THAAD האמריקנית לקחה חלק ביירוט הטיל הבליסטי ששוגר אמש מתימן. אפשר לשמוע את אחד החיילים האמריקניים מתרגש “18 שנים חיכיתי לזה” pic.twitter.com/s4VoMfMhaF
— איתי בלומנטל 🇮🇱 Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) December 27, 2024
The THAAD system, developed by the USA, is designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles throughout their terminal part. In contrast to standard techniques, THAAD depends on kinetic vitality to neutralise threats, destroying incoming missiles via impression moderately than an explosive warhead.
An ordinary THAAD battery contains six truck-mounted launchers, every able to holding as much as eight interceptors, together with a radar and a fireplace management system. The system’s radar can detect threats from a variety of 870 to three,000 kilometres.
The Houthi missile launch marked the fifth such assault on Israel in simply eight days. The Iran-backed group claimed to have focused Ben Gurion Airport. In response, Israeli warplanes launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, together with the Hezyaz energy plant and infrastructure at Sanaa Worldwide Airport.
The Houthis have launched greater than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel over the previous yr, in response to the IDF, nonetheless, nearly all of these threats have been intercepted or fell wanting their targets. The group has additionally disrupted industrial delivery within the Purple Sea, concentrating on over 100 service provider vessels and forcing carriers to reroute.
The Houthis have explicitly linked their actions to the continuing battle in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, 2023, following Palestinian group Hamas’ assault on Israel.
