Yemen: PM of Houthi-led gov’t claims some missiles ‘reached targets’ in Israel 

The Prime Minister of the Houthi-led National Salvation Government (NSG) in Yemen, Abdulaziz Bin Habtoor, has taken credit for missiles and drones allegedly launched towards Israel that were intercepted by the US navy in the Red Sea, insisting that some of them reached their targets.

Yesterday, Habtoor was quoted as saying: “The Americans intercepted missiles and drones that were heading towards the occupied territories. They managed to shoot down some of them, while the others were able to reach their targets.”

“Sanaa has contributed and will continue to contribute with all its capabilities to respond to the massacres in Gaza,” he warned, adding that if the occupation state’s attacks on Gaza continue, “the Zionist ships will be targeted in the Red Sea,” reported the Yemen Press Agency.

Prime Minister of Yemen's Sanaa government Abdulaziz bin Habtoor takes credit for the missiles and drones launched toward Israel, some of which were intercepted by the US navy.

"If the attacks on Gaza continue, the Israeli Regime ships will be targeted in the Red Sea" pic.twitter.com/yczDzl2SgG

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 22, 2023

On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that the missiles had been launched “potentially towards targets in Israel” while the USS Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, was operating in the northern Red Sea.

According to Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder, three land-attack cruise missiles and several drones were launched from Yemen before being downed. “We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel,” he said.

OPINION: Israel’s ambitions in south Yemen increase risk of conflict with Houthis

On Friday, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the occupation air force was ready to repel attacks by the Iranian-supported Houthis, “at a rate that has not been seen for decades.”

“Israel has some of the world’s best air defenses, and is prepared for threats like these,” he added.

Also on Friday, Bloomberg noted that the Houthis are reportedly in possession of “a liquid-propellant missile known as Toufan that could have a 1,350–1,950 km (839-1212 mile) range, enough to potentially put Israel within striking distance — at a stretch.”

Ehud Yaari, a commentator for Israel’s Channel 12, said it is necessary to deal seriously with the threats emanating from Yemen, targeting Israeli vessels operating in the strategic Bab El-Mandeb in the event of a ground operation in Gaza.

In a speech on 10 October, praising the Hamas-led resistance operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the leader of the Houthi movement, Sayyid Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, said: “We are in complete coordination with the axis of jihad and resistance to do what we can and everything we can do.”

“This coordination has red lines and relevant levels, including that if the Americans intervene directly, we are ready to participate even at the level of missile bombing, drones, and military options.”

“The Yemeni people are present to perform their sacred duty alongside the Palestinian people and their heroic and free mujahideen, and their participation in the major demonstrations and marches expressed this,” he said.

Yemen: Houthis warn US not to intervene in Gaza