Yemeni Drone Baffles Israelis as it Strikes Tel Aviv

In the light of the Houthi drone that hit Tel Aviv early morning Friday, one of which landed on an apartment building and killed 1 Israeli and injured 10 others, the Israeli army have been on high alert.

The Houthis drone took the Israeli air force by surprise. They said whilst they saw and detected the drone coming, they didn’t move to activate the red alerts and that is why it was not intercepted.

Israeli military officials admit “human error among their defenses to stop the drone that landed between Shalom Aleichem and Ben Yehuda Streets in Tel Aviv, hundreds of meters away from the American Embassy,” as reported by the Turkish news agency, Anadolu.

This was according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation  (KAN) which stated it was a “bomb-laden drone that exploded  at the intersection” of these streets at about 3:10 am Friday were large explosions were heard and reported.  

Following the attack the Israeli army claimed over 200 drones and cruise missiles were fired from Yemen towards Israeli locations since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October, 2023. 

Experts say the drone is adding further fears among Israelis, a large number of whom are reported to be leaving the country.

The Houthi attack which is the first of its kind on the city to come from all the way from Yemen is a major embarrasment for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army.

Analysts have said it is Israel that is no longer safe being hit from the south, all the way to Eilat, settlements sorrounding Gaza, north of the country by Hezbollah in Lebanon and now its center, in major cities like Tel Aviv.  

In March, the Israeli army reported for the first time a cruise missile fired from Yemen entered Israeli airspace and exploded in an open area in northern the Port of Eilat that is about to declare its bankruptsy because Israeli ships make their way there were targetted by the Houthis.

This type of drone, named Haifa, was not detected by radars and other surveillance systems whilst flying all the way from Yemen along the Red Sea and towards Tel Aviv.

CrossFireArabia

CrossFireArabia

Dr. Marwan Asmar holds a PhD from Leeds University and is a freelance writer specializing on the Middle East. He has worked as a journalist since the early 1990s in Jordan and the Gulf countries, and been widely published, including at Albawaba, Gulf News, Al Ghad, World Press Review and others.

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Iran Halts Attacks on Neighboring States Unless…

Iran’s president said Saturday that his country will refrain from attacking neighboring states unless attacks are launched against Iran from their territory, state-run Press TV reported.

“The temporary leadership council announced yesterday that there will be no more attacks on neighboring countries and no missile launches unless attacks originate from those countries against Iran,” Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised address to the Iranian people.

He also apologized to neighboring countries amid rising regional tensions, saying Iran has “no intention of invading other countries.”

Pezeshkian also dismissed expectations that Iran would surrender unconditionally, saying that those who nurse such hopes “will take their dreams to the grave.”

Iran on Feb. 28 launched missiles and drones toward Israel and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets. Some of the attacks have caused casualties and damage to civilian sites, including ports and residential buildings.

Tehran says the attacks came in response to a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that has killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials. Anadolu

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