IDF 'Arrow' aerial defense system intercepts Houthi missile above Tel Aviv

The missile was intercepted outside Israeli airspace, according to the IDF, causing loud booms and debris to fall.

 The Arrow 3 air defense system, used for the first time on November 9, 2023, to intercept a missile fired at Eilat by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. (photo credit: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE)
The Arrow 3 air defense system, used for the first time on November 9, 2023, to intercept a missile fired at Eilat by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
(photo credit: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE)

The IDF's 'Arrow' system intercepted a missile sent from Yemen that triggered sirens across the center of Israel, the IDF confirmed on Friday.

The missile was intercepted outside Israeli airspace, according to the IDF, causing loud booms and debris to fall.

The IDF has had to deploy the 'Arrow aerial defense system' to prevent Houthi attacks several times during the war, including the Houthi missile sent targeting Eilat in February and the missile sent targeting Tel Aviv on September 14, which entered Israel airspace much to the chagrin of the IDF.

Arrow aerial system intercepts Houthi missile over Tel Aviv (credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
Arrow aerial system intercepts Houthi missile over Tel Aviv (credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)

Magen David Adom said that no injuries had been reported but that several people suffered anxiety attacks or were injured while seeking shelter.

Confirmed retaliation

The attack came after the IDF confirmed it had killed Hezbollah's drone unit chief, Muhammad Hossein Sarur, in strikes on Beirut the previous day.

Sarur was reportedly operating as Hezbollah's liaison to the Houthis, advising them on aerial strategies.

Nasruddin Amer, chairman of the Houthi-backed Yemeni state news agency Saba, confirmed on X/Twitter that the strike was in retaliation for the killing of Sarur in Lebanon, using his alias "Haj Abu Saleh."


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Israel's recent campaign in Lebanon has seen astounding success, with several high echelons of Hezbollah's intelligence and operational network being targeted and destroyed.