For the first time in history: Israel shoots down ballistic missile in space – The Telegraph
This week, Israel became the first country in the world to shoot down a ballistic missile outside the Earth’s atmosphere. To destroy a missile launched by the Yemeni Houthis at the Israeli port city of Eilat, the Israeli Defense Forces used the Arrow system of American-Israeli design.
This was reported by the Telegraph. The publication has already dubbed what happened “the first battle that ever took place in space.”
According to the Telegraph, the IDF has released scant details about the missile’s downing in space. It is known that a ballistic missile was launched this week in the direction of the Israeli port city of Eilat by Houthi militants, representatives of the Ansar Allah paramilitary group operating in Yemen and supported by Iran.
The ballistic missile managed to fly in the direction of Eilat for about 1.5 thousand meters. km over the Arabian Peninsula when its flight was interrupted by the Israeli Arrow 2 system, which uses a hypersonic interceptor to destroy incoming missiles in space. According to the publication, the Israeli Air Force has several batteries of the Arrow 2 system in service.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense published a video that captured the moment of interception. The published footage shows the vague outlines of an approaching ballistic missile, and at some point an explosion is heard, blinding the camera.
The IDF noted that the Air Force systems tracked the missile’s trajectory and intercepted it “at the most appropriate operational time and place.”
Photos taken in Eilat also appeared online, showing smoke from an Arrow interceptor. Local residents also said that they heard a loud explosion on the ground.
The Houthis also published video footage of a significant number of drones and missiles being launched on October 30 at Israeli territory, including a ballistic missile.
According to the Telegraph, this is the Qader ballistic missile, which is an improved version of the Shahab 3 ballistic missile created by Iran.
The Qader ballistic missile is over 15 meters long and is equipped with an explosive warhead. Its flight range covers the entire territory of Israel. And it was to counter such threats that Israel created the Arrow system, which was first deployed about 25 years ago.
“A successful interception is more than just protecting the people of Eilat and dealing a blow to the Houthis’ boast. First and foremost, it proves to Iran, which was behind the launch and delivered the missile, that Israel has the ability to act against its missile program, and this has much broader implications for the regional conflict,” commented an Israeli Defense Ministry spokesperson on the historic shootdown.
It should be reminded that after the Hamas attack on October 7, the Houthis from Yemen have repeatedly tried to strike Israel as part of what they claim is a “military operation against Israel in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and their militant resistance.” The militants also assured that the strikes will continue until Israel stops attacking the Gaza Strip in response to the terrorist attack and the killing of more than 1,400 Israelis.
