A tweet by the IDF claimed that a cruise missile launched from the southeast toward Israeli airspace was successfully intercepted by F-35i fighter jets. In addition, on the same day, the IAF’s Arrow Aerial Defense System intercepted a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea area. The IDF stated that air force systems tracked the missile’s trajectory and intercepted it “at the most appropriate operational time and location.”
חיל האוויר חושף: יירוט טיל קרקע-קרקע ע"י מערכת ההגנה של טיל "חץ" pic.twitter.com/DDUGsPy4gq
— מעריב אונליין (@MaarivOnline) November 2, 2023
The missile was reportedly a Qader missile – an upgraded version of the Iranian Shahab 3, the most advanced Iranian liquid-propellant medium-range ballistic missile which has more than 2000 km range and carries a single 700-1000 kg warhead.
A Houthi spokesman claimed this was the third operation by the Yemenite terrorists to target Israel and the first to reach Israeli territory. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement the attacks would continue until “Israeli aggression” stopped, referring to the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
🔴A cruise missile launched from the southeast toward Israeli airspace was successfully intercepted by F-35i fighter jets.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 2, 2023
🔴On the same day, the IAF’s Arrow Aerial Defense System intercepted a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea area. pic.twitter.com/jZn0wcqwUX
The Jerusalem Post reported that the Houthi missile was the first kill for the Arrow missile defense system. According to a report in the UK’s Daily Telegraph, the missile was intercepted outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Swords of Iron: The IAF carried out the first operational interception of a ballistic missile threat by the “Arrow” system in the Red Sea region. The threat did not infiltrate into Israeli airspace.🚀
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) October 31, 2023
Pictured: Arrow system archive photos. pic.twitter.com/lOhFzKraKj