Houthi drone strikes Eilat: the cracks of Israeli air defense myth
Israel has been famous for its Iron Dome system, which has blocked countless rockets and missiles over the past few years, making it almost impossible to break. But on the morning of September 24, the system broke out in Eilat. Two drones launched by Houthis from Yemen quietly drilled across the border and headed straight to the heart of this southern Red Sea port city. As a result? After the explosion sounded, at least 22 civilians were injured, two of them seriously injured, two of them moderate injury, and many others were mildly wounded and rubbed. This is not a small joke, Eilat is a hot spot for tourists, the long shore hall comes to people, and in the morning it is just a walk to the peak.
The Israeli Defense Military admitted that the interception failed. Technical analysis showed that the drones may have used a new coating to absorb radar waves, so that the sensors of the Iron Dome do not react at once. Houthi has learned a lot from Iran over the years, upgraded its low-air flight path, and added interference equipment. In recent months, they have tried several times, this time finally succeeded. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly condemned that it was a barbaric attack on civilians. CNN and Al Jazeera reports pointed out that this wave was a Houthi "solidarity" to the Gaza conflict, and they claimed to fight the Israeli economic fate, port trade is key.
When this happened, the Israeli society broke up. The residents of Eilat questioned why the defensive system that had been built for so much money had dropped the chain? The government called for an emergency meeting, and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke on his trip from New York, saying that the Houthi should pay the price. Defense Minister Katz was more straightforward, declaring that any actions that hurt Israel would be rejected seven times. The civil reaction was also fierce, there were rallies in the streets of Tel Aviv, and supporters shouted “no compromise.” This was not only a military issue, but also involved people’s livelihoods, and Eilat relied on tourism to eat, this attack directly caused flights to be cancelled, hotels to be empty, and the economy lost millions of dollars.
Israel's Undeclared Lightning Reaction: 20 Fighter Plans Decided to Cross the Desert
On September 25, the Israeli air force did not give the Houthis a chance to breathe, and launched 20 F-35 stealth fighters directly from the Nevatima base and flew 2,000 kilometers to Posana. This was the most violent operation against Yemen this year, with the military claiming to have used more than 65 precision missiles and bombed seven targets, including the Houthis General Staff, intelligence buildings and military camps. Reuters that the fighter aircraft crossed the Negev desert and refuelled twice in the air to ensure accurate command.
Why so quickly? Israeli intelligence tracked the trajectory of the drone and locked the Houthi chain of command early. Secretary Katz says the goal is to cut off their leadership and supply lines. The BBC quoted witnesses as saying that smoke and dust billowed in downtown Sana'a, and the explosion lasted for half an hour. Houthi media Al Masirah TV confirmed that the exterior wall of the General Staff building collapsed and most of the internal equipment was destroyed. This is not a random bombing. The military uses satellites and drones to correct in real time to avoid civilian areas. However, the Houthi Ministry of Health reported eight deaths and 142 injuries, and the rescue team was still digging people in the rubble.
Chain reaction to Sanaa air strikes: the geo-game behind the casualties
As soon as the air strike landed, in the early morning of September 26, the Houthi rocket forces fought back. The "Palestine-2" hypersonic missile was used to target Tel Aviv, claiming to hit industrial areas and airports. Xinhua reported that the missile speed was Mach 16, and Israel's Iron Dome intercepted most of it, but debris landed, airport flights were suspended, and residents took refuge in bomb shelters. Houthi said the operation was successful, and the Israeli military admitted that the defense net held 85%, but the shock wave damaged the building.
The wave of confrontation has made the number of casualties in Sanaa even sharper. AP News said at least nine people were killed and more than 170 injured, including women and children. Hospitals are overloaded, rescue teams from the ruins of Sanaa, and the United Nations calls for the investigation of civilian casualties. Israel advocates, the target is purely military, but the borders of the Houthi control zone are vague, and intelligence deviations are common. Russian TASS witnessed smoke columns, hospital squads, doctors busy with burns and fractures.
Why are the casualties so heavy? Houthi stuffed the headquarters into the city, and the shield tactics were played smoothly. Although Israel's precision bombs are accurate, collateral damage cannot be avoided. According to FDD analysis, the missiles supplied by Iran made Houthi bold, but the civil war in Yemen made people's livelihood suffer, 80% of which depended on aid. After this air strike, the risk of famine increased. The Houthi leadership hides underground and it takes time to rebuild the chain of command, but morale is supported by propaganda.