New Delhi: The American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system was utilized to intercept a ballistic missile launched at Israel from Yemen. The missile was believed to be fired by the Houthi rebels, a group supported by Iran.
Deployed in Israel by the United States in October, the THAAD system was activated to intercept the missile for the first time, as reported by the Times of Israel. Social media footage captured the system launching an interceptor, accompanied by the excited voice of an American soldier exclaiming, “Eighteen years I’ve been waiting for this.”
While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the successful interception of the missile, they did not specify whether the system used was Israeli or American. However, security sources indicated that THAAD had effectively engaged the missile, according to reports.
The decision to deploy THAAD in Israel came after a ballistic missile attack by Iran on October 1. This advanced system has the capability to intercept missiles both within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
The THAAD system, developed by the United States, is specifically designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. It relies on kinetic energy to neutralize threats, destroying incoming missiles through impact rather than an explosive warhead.
A standard THAAD battery consists of six truck-mounted launchers, each capable of holding up to eight interceptors, along with a radar and a fire control system. The radar can detect threats within a range of 870 to 3,000 kilometers.
The recent Houthi missile launch marked the fifth attack on Israel within just eight days. In response, Israeli warplanes conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including the Hezyaz power plant and infrastructure at Sanaa International Airport.
Over the past year, the Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel, with the majority intercepted or failing to reach their targets, according to the IDF. They have also disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, targeting over 100 merchant vessels and necessitating reroutes for carriers.
The Houthis have connected their actions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, following an attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas.
