1st Kill For F35! Israeli Stealth Fighters Shoot Down Houthi-Launched Cruise Missile Launched From Yemen – IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that F-35i Adir fighter jets were deployed to successfully intercept a cruise missile launched from Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthis aimed at Israel.

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On November 2, the Israeli Air Force turned to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share a video capturing the moment the F-35I fighter jet successfully destroyed a projectile. 

The Israeli Air Force said that in the past few days, their control and detection systems detected the launch of a cruise missile from the southeast aimed at the Israeli airspace.

These systems closely tracked the path of the cruise missile, prompting the dispatch of fighter jets from the “Adir” formation. These jets efficiently intercepted the incoming threat. 

The Air Force, along with its integrated air defense system, has established a comprehensive, multi-tiered defense strategy spanning from southern to northern regions. 

This defensive network is designed to safeguard the entirety of Israel’s territory, countering a wide range of potential threats, according to the service. 

“Air Force personnel in defense and attack are constantly planning and managing the defense response and are prepared for any threat in any area. At the same time, the active defense against missiles is part of the defense’s complete response, which is also based on the directives of the Home Front Command,” the Air Force noted. 

The Air Force also published a video demonstrating the Arrow aerial defense system successfully intercepting a surface-to-surface missile over the Red Sea. The event occurred on October 31, but the video of the air defense system intercepting the ballistic missile has now been released. 

The IDF has also successfully intercepted several other targets, believed to be drones launched from Yemen, over the Red Sea in the past few days. Additionally, they have reinforced the region with naval missile ships.

f-35 Adir
File Image: Israeli F-35

Furthermore, the Israeli military has bolstered its deployment of multiple layers of air defense measures in the region to safeguard against Houthi attacks.

Additionally, the US Navy is stationed in the Red Sea region and recently managed to intercept multiple Houthi missiles and drones heading towards Israel.

Houthi Rebels Unleash Drones And Missiles Against Israeli Targets

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group, announced that they had launched a substantial quantity of drones and ballistic missiles aimed at Israel, claiming that these projectiles had successfully struck their intended targets.

Saree said, “The armed forces continue to carry out our military operations, in solidarity with the oppression of the Palestinian people, and in response to the call and demands of the Yemeni people, and the peoples of the entire nation until the Israeli aggression against our brothers in steadfast Gaza stops.”

He further mentioned that there are intentions to continue launching strikes until what he termed “Israeli aggression” comes to a halt. 

Saree asserted that their armed forces launched a large batch of ballistic and winged missiles and a large number of drones at various Israeli enemy targets, referring to the entirety of Israel as occupied territories.

The Houthi rebels are a Shiite political and military group in Yemen that has been embroiled in a civil war within the country, opposing a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia. They have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and have organized protests in Yemen against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The Arrow-3 anti-aircraft missile during deployment. Photo credits: IAI

They are known for their strong anti-Israel and anti-American stance. Their slogan, “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory to Islam,” reflects their hostility towards these countries.

However, the Houthi rebels have showcased their missile and drone capabilities throughout the Yemen war by launching attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, often targeting oil installations and critical infrastructure.

The Saudi-led coalition has consistently accused Iran of providing the Houthi rebels with arms, training, and financial support. In contrast, the Houthi group refutes allegations of being an Iranian proxy and claims to develop their weaponry independently. 

On the other hand, Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, has also engaged in hostilities with Israel along their border areas, with these clashes coinciding with the fighting between Palestinian factions and Israel.

In the meantime, the Israeli military has escalated its aerial and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip has endured relentless airstrikes since the surprise attack launched by the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7.