Illustrative image.
A ballistic missile launched on May 12 from Yemen, apparently by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) at Israel, fell short in Saudi Arabia or off its coast, Hebrew media reported.
A military source told The Times of Israel that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) identified the launch, but no sirens sounded in Israel because the missile did not pose a threat.
There was no comment from the Houthis on the alleged missile launch, which came just a day after the IDF issued evacuation orders for three key ports held by the group in the western Yemeni province of al-Hodeidah. No strikes were reported after the warning.
Later, on May 12, Houthi-linked Yemeni media reported that a drone was shot down by the group’s air defenses over the northern province of Sadaa. The drone was identified by some sources as a United States-made MQ-9 Reaper. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
Videos posted to social media showed a fireball fall from the sky and what appears to be the burning wreckage on the ground later.
Just six days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a deal had been reached with the Houthis, with the group agreeing to halt attacks on U.S. vessels in exchange for ending an operation the U.S. military launched in mid-March. The group, however, refused to halt attacks against Israel.
It is very possible that the large drone shot down by the Houthis over Sadaa was sent by the IDF, and not an American MQ-9.
All in all, the Houthis continue to show resolve in the face of Israeli threats. The group appears to be determined to go on with its campaign against Israel in support of the Gaza Strip.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive in Gaza, the Houthis have launched some 30 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel. Some of the missiles have fallen short, while most of the rest were intercepted. Still, a single hit on Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel on May 4 was enough to force many airlines to halt flights to the country.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
