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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) released on November 1 video footage showing the launch of Zulfiqar ballistic missiles, Quds cruise missiles and Samad-3 suicide drones from Yemen at targets in Israel in support of the Gaza Strip.
The Iran-allied group launched the large-scale strike a day earlier and claimed responsibility for two previous attacks on October 19 and 27.
Some of the projectiles launched by the group were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems and fighter jets, while at least one cruise missile was reported to have landed in the Jordanian desert. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said there was no risk to Israeli civilians amid the attacks, as the missiles and drones were intercepted over the Red Sea.
The range of Zulfiqar ballistic missiles, Quds cruise missiles and Samad-3 suicide drones is known to be around 2,000 kilometers, more than enough to reach targets in Israel from Yemeni territory. Very little is known about these systems, which were reportedly supplied by Iran or developed with help from it.
A spokesman for Houthis who announced the last attack on October 31 vowed that more strikes will target Israel in response to the war on Gaza.
On November 1 morning, another projectile was reportedly intercepted by the IDF near the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat.
In preparation for more attacks from Yemen, the IDF said that it had bolstered its defenses in the Red Sea with Navy missile warships.
The IDF said that the warships were deployed yesterday “in accordance with the assessment of the situation, and as part of the increased defense efforts in the area.” Video footage released by the Navy showed two Sa’ar 5-class corvettes, each of which can be armed with up to 32 Barak-1 or 8 air defense missiles.
The Houthis control much of Yemen, including a long strip of the Red Sea coast and the capital Sanaa, and maintain a large arsenal of missiles and drones. The group’s attacks were not a surprise. Houthi officials threatened to attack Israel on several occasions following the October 7 Palestinian surprise attack which provoked an unprecedented Israeli attack on Gaza.
A United States warship and Saudi Arabia’s air defense reportedly repelled the first attack by the group on October 19. During the second attack on October 27, the IDF intercepted projectiles over Egyptian territory.
Israeli officials are reportedly considering a response to recent attacks by the Houthis. However, no military action against Yemen by Israel or the U.S. will likely deter the group. Any response could actually lead to larger attacks against Israel and possibly even strikes on U.S. assets in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
