Enemy missile intercepted. Israel used the Arrow air defense system
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) announced that the Arrow air defense system has been used for the first time in the ongoing conflict. A ballistic missile fired at Israel by Yemeni forces aligned with Hamas was successfully intercepted and neutralized. Israeli fighter jets targeted and destroyed other potential threats believed to have been drones.
According to the IDF, a missile shot from the Arrow launcher neutralized a ballistic missile launched from near the Red Sea in Yemen before it could cross into Israeli territory. The system signifies the primary layer of Israel's air defense infrastructure, boasting the greatest range (approximately 1243 miles from the protected area). Shorter range systems such as David's Sling (roughly 186 miles) and Iron Dome (about 43 miles), which have been discussed previously, also remain active.
The Homa system
The Arrow anti-missile system is part of the Homa system (Hebrew for wall), established to protect Israeli territory at considerable distances. Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 missiles are comparable to the American THAAD system. The design of this system is to detect, track, and neutralize incoming ballistic missiles. These interceptor missiles are conveyed via mobile launchers and are synchronized with the ground-based, long-range, Green Pine fire control radars. These radars have an effective range of approximately 310 miles. The Citron Tree mobile battle management center oversees the launch control.
All components of the system are mobile or semi-mobile, reducing the chance of them being destroyed in a potential first strike. Notably, Germany has previously expressed its intent to assimilate this system into its defense infrastructure, complementing a unified European air defense system. Meanwhile, Israel is already developing the next iteration of the system, namely Arrow-4.
Yemeni attack thwarted by the Arrow
The missile assault launched from Yemen was successfully thwarted, with the Houthi Movement, an Islamist military-political group, accepting responsibility. This group, actively backed by Iran, aligns itself with Hamas in the current conflict. The Houthis also acknowledged numerous other attempted attacks on southern Israel in their recent actions.
The IDF reported that fighter jets were deployed in the mission, intercepting and neutralizing an additional two "enemy targets". The objects in question were probably drones operating in the Red Sea area during the same period. At present, it is uncertain if the two events were coordinated or whether the drones were on separate operations.
