IN THE CROSSHAIRS
Horror moment Houthi cruise missile lands in ISRAEL in chilling first – after wargames preparing for UK & US invasion
The incident demonstrates a worrisome shift in tactics from the Iran-backed rebel group
This is the horror moment a Houthi cruise missile lands in Israel in a chilling first.
Footage captured the explosion in an open area near Eilat, a southern Israeli port on the Red Sea, early Monday morning.
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It marks the first such incursion by a Houthi-launched cruise missile into Israeli territory.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday evening that an unidentified aerial target had breached Israeli airspace from the Red Sea direction.
The IDF added that it had promptly tracked the trajectory of the missile with the Air Force’s vigilance throughout the entire episode.
Houthi missile attacks have been primarily intercepted by American coalition forces, the IDF or neighbouring territories such as Jordan in the past.
But this latest incident demonstrates a worrisome shift in tactics from the Iran-backed rebel group.
It comes just days after the Houthi launched wargames dubbed "The Promised Day Manoeuvre" in preparation for a UK and US invasion.
Footage released by Yemeni media this week revealed units of the Central Military District forces carrying out the military drills.
The wargames simulated violent and widespread confrontation operations against enemy forces after they carried out parachute landings on some Yemeni areas, Saba reported.
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As part of the exercise, they succeeded in luring groups of the American and British enemy into large minefields, where dozens of them were expected to be killed.
A thousand fighters from the region are said to have participated.
Houthis vow to EXPAND their reign of terror to the Indian Ocean in ‘major step’ that could send shipping prices soaring
According to the combat training scenario, one mission involved groups of citizens confronting the enemy and engaging in violent clashes.
During the wargames, member of the Supreme Political Council, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, said: "We cannot meet the American and British enemy with roses, but rather we will meet them with killing and abuse.
"As you saw in the great manoeuvre, that is a manifestation of the purpose of confronting the arrogant enemy."
It comes as the Houthi's vowed to expand their campaign of terror from the Red Sea into the Indian Ocean in a "major step".
Chief Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared last week that his militant's will now be targeting Israel-linked vessels all the way to the southern tip of Africa.
Yemen's Houthis have since claimed responsibility for the cruise missile launched from the Red Sea into Israel on Monday.
The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, admitted the attack on Tuesday along with the target of a fuel tanker, MADO, in the Red Sea.
MADO is a Marshall Islands flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker heading to Singapore from Saudi Arabia, maritime shipping trackers showed.
The Houthis described it as American, but Equasis's shipping database indicates that it is owned by Naftomar Shipping & Trading Co Ltd of Greece.
Naftomar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iran-aligned Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at international commercial shipping in the Red Sea region since mid-November in retaliation to Israel's military assault in Gaza.
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The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to take longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.
The United States and Britain, along with other navies, have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response.
That includes the destruction of two Houthi drones with Sea Ceptor missiles fired from British warship HMS Richmond earlier this month.
The US also shot down two Houthi drones after three people were killed in the first fatal attack by the Iran-backed rebels on March 6.
In retaliation, the US military conducted self-defence strikes against the "Suicide" drones in Western Yemen that presented an "imminent threat".
In a separate attack, Houthi militants killed at least 18 people in the central Yemeni province of Al Bayda, the official Yemeni news agency Saba reported on Tuesday.
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The Houthis control most of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the main Red Sea port of Hodeidah.
The militants since 2014 have been in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Western governments and Saudi Arabia.
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels are terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships - but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls most of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage - turning one of the world's busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
The rebel group has been launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships - including warships - they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.
However, in reality there have been frequent attacks on commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel - forcing global sea traffic to halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices soaring.
The sea assaults have threatened to ignite a full-blown war in the Middle East as intense ripples from Israel's war in Gaza are felt across the region - with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased 50 per cent between November and December as the rebel group's chiefs pledged their assaults would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen - Iran's terror proxy appears undeterred.
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